SINGAPORE – An expanded definition of family – one that includes grandparents, aunts and uncles – and encouraging families to help those beyond their kin are among the shifts that Mr Keith Magnus hopes to see in time.
Shrinking family sizes make it increasingly important to widen support networks around children, said Mr Magnus, who was appointed in January as council chairman of Families for Life (FFL).
Calling Singapore’s record low total fertility rate (TFR) an existential issue, Mr Magnus said movements like FFL can play a role in highlighting the joy of parenthood to shift mindsets and complement broader efforts such as the new inter-agency workgroup.
The Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, was formed after Singapore’s TFR fell to a historic low of 0.87 in 2025. The work group will release a full report in early 2027.
Speaking to the media about helming his first National Family Festival (NFF) – a month-long series of events and activities in June across Singapore – in his leadership term, Mr Magnus said he hopes for the movement to include a larger family archetype.
The NFF is part of the FFL movement, run by the Ministry of Social and Family Development. FFL was first formed in 2006 under the name National Family Council to promote resilient families.
