Menu
articles catalogue
Building an (Un)anxious Generation
The move from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood has led to the rise in anxiety across the world. Social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt made this case in his 2024 book “The Anxious Generation”. Drawing from his findings, our research and policy lead Daniel Lim spoke at The Helping Hand “Ride and Run to Restore” on 18 April 2026, on the topic “Building an (Un)anxious Generation”. Here is an edited extract from the talk.
- 10 July 2026
How Delayed Marriage and Parenthood Result in Sandwiched Families
Singaporeans are marrying later and having children later. Demographically, this increases the risk of acute sandwiched family struggles, especially with two or more generations of delayed marriage and parenthood. While it is important to support families in such situations, it is also important to encourage earlier marriage and parenthood planning. A version of this article was presented at our Commune on 16 May.
- June 30 2026
“Achievement-orientated Values” (Part 2 of 2): How this 1971 speech suggests solutions to fertility rates today
The 1971 speech by Parliamentary Secretary Inche Sha’ari Bin Tadin captured the heart and motivation of Singapore’s population control campaign. To pursue achievement and a high standard of living, “adaptations” had to be made to family life and childbearing, education and our value systems. To improve our fertility rates, we should perhaps do the opposite what he was calling for at the time.
- June 22 2026
“Achievement-orientated Values” (Part 1 of 2): This 1971 speech explains why our fertility rates are so low (and hints at how we can raise it)
Singapore’s total fertility rate hit a new record low at 0.87 in 2025, a long consequence of the overwhelming success of the “Stop at Two” population control campaign launched in 1972. Just a year prior, Parliamentary Secretary Inche Sha’ari Bin Tadin gave a speech capturing the heart and motivation of the campaign. Could this speech also contain hints of how we can reverse our low birth rates?
- June 22 2026
More For You
Non-interference: Parents Decide, Grandparents Follow?
In Singapore, there is an important social norm of "non-interference" between grandparents and parents. It implicitly recognises that parents have primary responsibility for raising children. Dialogue, mutual respect and understanding are important, if we want to move forward constructively.
- 16 May 2025
“Mom, Dad, Where Are You?” The Right to Know One’s Natural Parents
Adoptive children have a deep desire to seek their biological parents in an effort to find themselves. It touches on deep and profound questions, involving one’s identity and origin. This right to know one’s natural parents has been recognised as a legal and moral right in Singapore.
- 6 May 2025
“Mismatched: Dating and the Gender Divide”: A Cultivate Commune update
Do gender roles or differences matter in dating? What do men and women think? At our Commune on 8 March, we gathered some young men and women to talk candidly about the dating scene and their own experiences, and gained some interesting perspectives on the topic.
- 28 April 2025
