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How “Helicopter Parenting” Harms Children, and the Culture 

Eyes on the Price: A Cultivate Commune (March) update 

eyes on the price text
The more people prize parenthood, the less deterred they are by its perceived price. The reverse is also true. These were the findings from our “Eyes on the Price” supplementary analysis released at our Commune on 28 March. With our society becoming more atomised and narratives thinking of children as a burden, can we refocus our values and priorities as a society?

Even in Old Age, Marriage Matters 

old asian married couple with their foreheads touching
As the foundation of family life, the benefits of marriage for children are well-known. But what about the elderly? Elderly who never married or are divorced or separated tend to have weaker intergenerational connections, being less likely to provide and receive support from their families. In “super-aged” Singapore, strengthening marriages must be a key priority, even as we look out for vulnerable seniors.

Sandwiched Families: Too Many Ways to Make a “Sandwich”?  

sandwiched family singapore
Conceptually, there is no one definition of a “sandwiched” family, ranging from those who live together or nearby, to different kinds of support or care provided to young and old. A reasonable estimate suggests there are more than 100,000 sandwiched households in Singapore. Perhaps valuing and supporting people in their caregiving journeys may be a more constructive way forward.

More For You

Update from Cultivate Commune: Singlehood, Marriage, and Friendships  

Cultivate Commune is a breakfast conversation where we explore how big ideas are planted in real community experiences. In this third Commune on 6 July 2024, we heard from two long-time friends, one married with children and one single. What can we do to sustain our friendships through different life stages of marriage or having children?

On Social Media and Touching Grass

Social media has enabled us to connect with others like never before, but why are people feeling lonelier? Research shows that we all need social contact with other people to keep mentally fit, and to feel connected and appreciated.

Cultivate Culture: How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

Tear-jerking Thai film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” invites us to reflect: Do we see our relationships in purely transactional terms, or do we genuinely love people – especially the elderly and sick – as persons worthy to be loved?

What we are reading

Articles here are for perspective and may not represent our views