the newly formed Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cMany young people are not just asking, \u2018Can we afford children?\u2019 They are also asking, \u2018What kind of life will we be able to give our children, and what kind of life will we have as parents?\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She added that time scarcity is the toughest issue to address as it deals with the tension between \u201ctwo good things\u201d.<\/p>\n
Working hard has helped Singapore progress as a nation, but the pursuit of achievement can come at the expense of well-being and pursuing other life goals like marriage and parenthood, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth are important to flourishing. So it is not a matter of one or the other, but rather how we can manage the tension between these two equally important objectives,\u201d said Ms Indranee.<\/p>\n
The minister pointed to a need for \u201crebalance\u201d in Singapore society.<\/p>\n
The working group will look into supporting couples financially in parenthood and ways to mitigate stress in the education system. The Government has also launched tripartite guidelines for flexible work arrangement requests, said Ms Indranee.<\/p>\n
Noting that policy alone cannot move the needle, she called on employers to provide flexible work options and put in place basic facilities, like lactation rooms, to help employees feel more supported.<\/p>\n
She added that community organisations can provide more family-friendly spaces, while everyone can support parents via gestures like offering practical help to families on public transport.<\/p>\n\n\nMinister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Office\u00a0Indranee\u00a0Rajah speaking at a conference on population matters at the National University of Singapore on May 21.<\/p>\n
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
One study presented at the conference found that children who were cared for by people other than their parents in their first 18 months fared better in reading and maths tests in pre-school.<\/p>\n
However, they faced a greater risk of behavioural challenges, such as bullying others or worrying too much, as reported by their parents.<\/p>\n
The study was based on a nationally representative data set of more than 2,500 children compiled between 2018 and 2022, from the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study.<\/p>\n
Almost nine in 10 of these children were cared for exclusively by their parents, while the others were cared for by pre-schools or infant-care centres, relatives or migrant domestic workers at least once a week for at least one month.<\/p>\n
Their higher achievements may be because infant-care centres provide a lot of cognitive and linguistic stimulation, the study\u2019s author, Dr Kristy Lee, told The Straits Times.<\/p>\n
Dr Lee, a scientist at the Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP) at A*STAR, added that some evidence indicates children develop more language and cognitive abilities when they interact with people outside their own family.<\/p>\n
But the greater risk of behavioural issues affecting children cared for by other people may be partly caused by their parents experiencing greater stress (for example, at work) and using harsh disciplinary practices more frequently.<\/p>\n
Being exposed to negative peer dynamics, such as aggressive behaviour among other children, may also contribute to behavioural issues, she said.<\/p>\n
For children in centre-based care, their primary caregivers are most likely mothers who have to work long hours, said Professor Jean Yeung, director of social sciences at IHDP and a professor at the Department of Paediatrics at NUS Medicine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stress of trying to manage both work and their babies\u2019 needs could potentially increase the emotional stress, and also increase punitive parenting behaviour,\u201d said Prof Yeung, who is also PAS\u2019 president.<\/p>\n\n\nProfessor Jean Yeung, director of social sciences at the Institute for Human Development and Potential, speaking at a conference on population matters at NUS on May 21.<\/p>\n
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
What this means is that infant-care providers need more training, she said, and working parents need more support during a child\u2019s first 18 months.<\/p>\n
This could mean expanded parental leave, flexible work arrangements and providing childcare services near the workplace.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to have a very family-friendly work culture… otherwise it intensifies this maternal work stress, which is ultimately not very good for both mothers and children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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