PARENTING AND CHILDCARE PRACTICES (Study)

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PARENTING AND CHILDCARE PRACTICES:

(Study): 13.

Mr Wee Siew Kim asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, in view of the prevalence of families where both parents are working full-time, whether his Ministry will consider conducting a detailed long-term study to investigate (i) the actual parenting and childcare practices in Singapore; (ii) the effects of alternative childcare arrangements on the development of children; and (iii) both parents' and children's perceptions of the consequences of various childcare practices.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, MCYS supports families by creating an environment conducive for parenthood. One of the key considerations is the availability, affordability and accessibility of a variety of childcare options. These include centre-based full-day, half-day, flexible care and home-based care through the Family Day Care Services.

A survey conducted by MCYS in 2001 showed that 46% of working mothers preferred self-care, 24% preferred grandparental care and 15% preferred centre-based care. Only 5% would opt for care by maids at home, while 6% preferred care by a nanny or relative at home. Another MCYS survey completed

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in 2004 indicated that the majority of parents still preferred to care for their children themselves, followed by care by family members or friends, and then centre-based care. Parents preferring self-care believed that they were best placed to take care of their children's physical and emotional needs. Parents who preferred grandparental care felt that the grandparents could provide guidance in the children's upbringing, and felt safe leaving their children with the grandparents.

Our MCYS 2001 survey also showed that parents who opted for centre-based care cited having confidence in the quality of care and education provided by the centres. Parents surveyed also indicated that such programmes contributed to their children's development, especially in their acquisition of social skills. An NIE study conducted in the year 2000 confirmed that parents were aware of the factors that made for good quality child-care centres. Parents placed emphasis on factors, such as the quality of caregivers, the length of time for children to interact, and the quality of children's activities.

Many studies conducted locally and overseas show that it is the quality of the care that matters in child development, not where or by whom the care is provided. For example, an American study from the University of North Carolina in 1999 found that quality of care had the strongest and most consistent, positive associations with cognitive and social development across different childcare arrangements. MCYS will continue to conduct research on childcare. We are in fact planning a comprehensive study on the impact of various child-care arrangements on a child's development. We hope to commission the study early next year and complete it by end 2006 or early 2007.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo: I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether

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any studies have been made on the extent of latch-key children in Singapore and what kind of assistance programmes are we rendering to them.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, the issues of latch-key children were addressed several years back, and with the problem of latch-key children came the services which were initially known as the Before-and-After-School Care. Subsequently, we called it the Student Care Services. It has been provided by various voluntary welfare organisations in the community. So, these services effectively provide care for children whose parents are working. These kids are primary school-going children, so that care is given to monitor both their academic as well as social development when their parents are at work. They go to these centres before or after school hours.

Mr Wee Siew Kim (Ang Mo Kio): Sir, I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. I have just one clarification. Considering that our society continues to evolve, I think the trend will be towards more and more dual-income families, especially in the younger age group. Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider that in his long-term study, and he would consider making the results progressively available so that young parents can make informed decisions? As he rightly pointed out, there is a balance to be struck between having high-quality childcare and improving the social development and cognitive skills of the child versus having close attachment to the parents which actually leads to other social behaviours as well.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, in the ideal state, a lot of academics especially would love to do longitudinal studies. Any studies on impact of any forms of care arrangements are best done longitudinally, ie, that you actually track the person from the day the child goes into a certain care arrangement to a later

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stage. Such studies are, by nature, laborious as well as resource-intensive. At this point in time, I take the Member's point that such studies are important. We are doing what we call cross-sectional studies to look at the current situation and factors that could possibly account for certain types of outcomes. But I will not discount the possibility of doing longitudinal studies. But the nature of longitudinal studies is that it takes a longer time for results to appear and it does take a longer time for us to appreciate and in understanding those factors. But I take the point that these are important things to consider also.