Meet the Malaysian Dad Building a Supportive Community for Fathers to Stay Active & Connected

There’s a phrase that goes, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and many parents would probably agree. Parenthood can be rewarding, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. After all, there’s no exact blueprint for raising a child, and what works for one family may not work for another.

A simple post sparked the idea of a community

For one Malaysian dad, becoming a father brought a new set of challenges as someone living with Tourette’s syndrome.

Aaron Tan, 32, is the founder and Creative Director of Alevate Studio. While Tourette’s syndrome had never stopped him from building his career and starting a family of his own, he had to learn to manage his tics differently when his daughter, Alexandra, was born.

“Fatherhood brought new challenges, especially learning how to manage my tics while carrying and caring for my daughter, dealing with broken sleep, and balancing the demands of family and work.”

Aaron said he began sharing his personal experiences online. What started as simple posts about what he had gone through, the mistakes he had made, and what he was still learning as a father and husband soon went viral.

It turned out that Aaron’s experiences resonated with many fathers, who began messaging him to share their own stories. He also started receiving questions about fatherhood, alongside messages encouraging him to continue documenting his journey.

Image Credit: @daddylittlesportclub | Instagram

Although Aaron admitted he didn’t have all the answers, those interactions sparked the idea of creating a community for dads.

“I’m not a parenting guru, and I don’t think I have the right to tell other dads how they should raise their children. I can only share my own perspective," he said.

"That’s when I thought, instead of only connecting online, why not organise a run during Father’s Day weekend and bring these dads together in person? I wanted us to meet, stay active, and get to know one another better in real life.”

Meet the Daddy & Little Sports Club

In June 2026, the community held its first activity together: the Daddy & Little Stroller Run at Desa ParkCity. The meetup was intentionally kept small, with around 30 dads and children in attendance.

Aaron said he wasn’t sure what the response would be, as most of the participants had only connected online. However, it turned into an incredibly welcoming and heartwarming gathering.

Image Credit: @daddylittlesportclub | Instagram

“The dads were very cool about everything. There was no competition or pressure. Everyone waited for and helped one another. We ended the morning at Jibby By The Park for breakfast and conversations. That was when an online connection became a real community," he shared.

While Daddy & Little Sports Club began with a stroller-running activity, Aaron said he did not want to limit the community to a single type of event. He hopes to explore other activities, such as strength workouts with babies in carriers, family-friendly fitness sessions, and collaborations with other communities.

According to Aaron, there was never a grand mission behind the initiative when it first started. His intention was simply to bring dads together, stay active with their children, and create the kind of support system he felt he needed after becoming a father.

“Staying active helps me manage myself better, but I also didn’t want exercising to mean leaving everything to my wife. That was another reason I wanted to create activities where dads could bring their children along.”

As the community began to grow, however, Aaron found that the mission of Daddy & Little Sports Club became clearer: to give fathers a space to look after themselves without stepping away from fatherhood.

He added, “We’re not here to teach anyone how to be a perfect dad. We’re here to move together, share what we’re going through, and remind one another that we don’t have to handle everything alone. That’s why our belief is simple: no dad left behind.”

Image Credit: @daddylittlesportclub | Instagram

Joining Daddy & Little Sports Club is straightforward, as it is open to fathers from all backgrounds and fitness levels. Those interested can follow the community on Instagram and register for upcoming activities.

A community to share the struggles of fatherhood

Aaron believes many fathers in Malaysia carry a great deal of pressure quietly. They are often expected to provide financially, support their spouses, be present for their children, and juggle the demands of work all at the same time.

“Many of us were not taught to express ourselves emotionally, so we keep things inside. Modern dads want to be more involved, not only as providers but also in feeding, changing diapers, and supporting our wives emotionally. We’re learning this new form of fatherhood while living through it.”

Image Credit: @daddylittlesportclub | Instagram

That is also why he believes many fathers were drawn to the idea of a community like Daddy & Little Sports Club. It offers a space where they can relate to one another without pressure or judgement.

“Sometimes we don’t need advice. We just need to know another dad understands what we’re going through.”

Although the community is still relatively new, Aaron said some of its most memorable moments have come from watching fathers interact, run together, and continue their conversations long after the activities ended. He also found it meaningful to see dads exchanging contact details and making plans to meet again.

“The idea came from one of the loneliest periods of my fatherhood journey. Watching it become something real made me realise that my struggle could become something positive for another dad. Our children may not remember that run, but we will remember that we showed up for them,” said Aaron.

Image Credit: @daddylittlesportclub | Instagram

Like many community initiatives, Daddy & Little Sports Club comes with its own set of challenges. For Aaron, one of the biggest is balancing the community with his other responsibilities. He also noted that organising child-friendly activities requires extra consideration for safety, weather conditions, feeding schedules, and varying fitness levels.

“Don’t completely lose yourself either.”

Aaron hopes that Daddy & Little Sports Club will one day become a trusted fatherhood community in Malaysia. While he would like the community to reach more fathers, particularly those outside of Kuala Lumpur, he emphasised the importance of keeping it personal and staying true to its core belief: no dad left behind.

While there is no shortage of advice for fathers, especially first-time dads, Aaron believes preparation should go beyond getting ready for a baby’s arrival.

Image Credit: @daddylittlesportclub | Instagram

“Prepare financially, physically, and mentally. Learn about postpartum recovery and understand that your wife needs patience, presence, and emotional support. Discuss responsibilities before both of you become exhausted,” he explained.

Beyond that, Aaron also reminds fathers not to lose themselves completely as their priorities shift.

“Find small ways to stay active and look after your mental health. You don’t need to be a perfect dad. Keep showing up, keep learning, and grow alongside your child.”

If you’re interested in joining activities organised by Daddy & Little Sports Club, visit their Instagram for more information.

Featured Image Credit: @daddylittlesportclub | Instagram