Date:    17 October 2026 (Saturday)
Time:    3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Venue:  Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library

Topic 1: How to Effectively Engage and Promote Children’s Academic Learning:
               Findings from Hong Kong Families
Topic 2: All-round Autism Care: An Overarching Intervention Approach for Autistic
               Children and Their Parents

Conducted in Cantonese.
Free admission. First come, first served.

General public can also watch a live broadcast of the lecture through the YouTube Channel of the Hong Kong Public Libraries (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJUipdvSACZjO1ldoO3YQBA)

Brief Introduction

Topic 1:    How to Effectively Engage and Promote Children’s Academic Learning: Findings from Hong Kong Families
Speaker:  Dr Catrina Liu
                  Research Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Children in Hong Kong face significant academic pressure from a young age, such as early literacy instruction in kindergarten and participation in after-school tutoring in primary school, leading to significant economic and emotional stress for parents. The family, as one of the proximal micro-ecosystems for children's learning and development, plays a vital role in their academic learning, development, and mental well-being. Based on several studies conducted in Hong Kong, this lecture discusses the characteristics of local home learning environment and activities, as well as their relationships with children's Chinese, English, and mathematics abilities, providing empirical guidance on how parents can effectively participate in and enhance their children's learning.

Topic 2:    All-round Autism Care: An Overarching Intervention Approach for Autistic Children and Their Parents
Speaker:  Professor Catherine Wing-chee So
                  Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

In a significant advancement for autism care, an all-round intervention that covers training of both autistic children and their parents, was delivered in Hong Kong. This lecture will present the research team’s signature RABI® intervention model, highlighting its contributions to innovation and technology, as well as its social and educational impact on key stakeholders.