Influence of family, friends key to couples having more kids

The Marriage and Parenthood Survey has been conducted every three to five years since 2004. Looking at the results from 2012 to last year, we find that married Singaporeans’ ideal number of children has not changed over these four years.

This is despite the Marriage and Parenthood Package — a set of subsidies and work-life incentives to encourage Singaporeans to marry and have children — being expanded in 2013 and in jubilee year 2015.

Couples indicated that their intended number of children (average: 2.2) is not much lower than their ideal number (average: 2.5). Respondents cited financial cost as a top reason for not having more children.

But, perhaps the current social norm of having only two to three children is the underlying reason.

While measures such as subsidies and flexible working arrangements make it less stressful to raise children, they are unlikely to encourage couples to have more than two or three.

Another study, in the Singapore Policy Journal, offers insights into parenthood. Young Singaporeans are more likely to want more children when they have the encouraging influence of people around them.

Their closest family members and friends play a role in terms of expressing support of parenthood, providing childcare, having or wanting children of their own and having positive experiences of raising children.

The study also found that workplace supportiveness had less impact on people’s intention to have children than we would expect. It remains important, however, to provide subsidies and promote work-life initiatives to relieve the stresses of parenthood.

Our perception of the challenges must also change in order to encourage couples to have more children. Policies alone cannot achieve this.

With our family and friends, we can start to speak in more supportive tones when we discuss parenthood, the life-changing journey of raising children, and all that it brings.