IS THIS ENOUGH?
There’s a tendency for Singaporeans to question whether any amount doled out by the government is enough to incentivise couples to have babies – but perhaps this is a misguided tack.
For a start, couples who are not planning to have babies will not do it simply for the money. There are also other vital concerns such as housing costs, and helping working parents – especially mothers – to be able to balance career-building and child-rearing, with flexible work arrangements, for instance.
Instead, the question should be whether this helps the couples who do want to have a large family but are worried about whether they can afford it.
For young parents who need all the help they can get with making ends meet, this aid can give them some much-needed room to breathe. For many, it may even make it possible to go for that one more child they’ve been dreaming about having.
Beyond just receiving money, the spotlight the Large Families Scheme was given in this year’s national Budget brings me a lot of comfort in knowing that our nation’s leaders are well aware of the particular difficulties large families face and are doing what they can to provide support.
Perhaps if this had been announced nine years ago when we just had our fifth baby, we might have gone for one or even two more. But now, I can only hope that my own kids will eventually make my dreams of having many grandchildren come true – and that, if they do, they’ll be given the support they need to make it work when the time comes.
(But no pressure, kids!)
Daphne Ling is a mum of five. She is also the co-owner of an advertising agency and a cafe.
