Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Minister for Community Development and Sports

Mr Chan Soo Sen

Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Community Development and Sports

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon,

Mayor, South West Community Development Council

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a grandparent myself, it gives me great pleasure to be with you this morning at this seminar on grandparenting.

We are all aware that the family is the basic unit of society. The family is the sanctuary that we, as children and as adults, turn to for affection, comfort and mutual support. It is where we can be ourselves. It is a pillar in times of need, a balm in times of grief and hurt, and a house of joy in times of celebration. This is why it is so important for us to strengthen the institution of the family, and to preserve its important role in our society in this digital age when interpersonal relations often seem to count for nothing.

Grandparents have always played a critical role in the family unit. There is a Chinese proverb, which describes having an old or senior person at home as having a "treasure" in the family. Older members of the family are respected for their wisdom and experience, and cherished for the love they bestow on the young. Nuclear families may be the norm now, but there are many parents in Singapore who still see the value of grandparents. For they not only play a significant role in helping to look after the young, but more importantly, grandparents help transmit and reinforce good family values to the young.

There are several trends which impact on the family and on the role grandparents play in the family. Parents, especially dual-income parents, get increasingly pulled into the fast-paced globalised work place, and have less time to spend with their children. With rising affluence, some parents may feel that they have more choices for alternative care-givers for their children, instead of turning to the grandparents for help. Grandparents too are becoming better educated, with more disposable income. Rather than become baby-sitters, some may prefer to have more free time of their own, to pursue their interests and hobbies.

It is therefore timely and imperative that we put the focus on grandparenting, and consciously work to enhance the role grandparents play in the family. Grandparents are a valuable resource in enhancing family ties, and in bringing different generations within the family together. Apart from being good care-givers, they also serve as role models for the young. While parents must remain the primary care-givers, grandparents do play a very important supporting role in the upbringing of the young. And we must not forget that grandparents are themselves seasoned parents. They can be a valuable resource and role model in the area of marriage and parenthood, provided the advice is dispensed judiciously. At the same time, by involving the grandparents meaningfully in the extended family, the older generation becomes an integral part of society and contributes to strengthening the family.

Today's seminar is to share ideas on grandparenting. This is timely, as our population is rapidly ageing, and as family issues are becoming increasingly complex. I hope there will be good ideas and suggestions forthcoming, and suited to our local context. In particular, ideas about strengthening the extended family network to raise resilient families, would be a key focus of your deliberations today. Focus will also be on the need for greater inter-generational bonding between the young and the old.

I am confident that this seminar will highlight the importance of grandparents and encourage family members to appreciate each other better. It will also reinforce the message that older family members are invaluable family treasures. I am sure many of you can recall warm and indelible memories of happy moments visiting your elder folks, whether from eating grandma’s freshly-prepared delicious "kueh kueh", or brought out for a special outing by grandpa. And I certainly hope that we can get the message out that the grandparent phase of one’s life can be a fulfilling one, with delightful little ones to fuss over. I can testify to this, as a grandparent myself.

Today’s seminar is also a good platform for community leaders and representatives from the various Volunteer Welfare Organisations to exchange experiences, and to reflect on the role of grandparents in the new millennium. I trust that the seminar will be a springboard for more programmes and initiatives that will involve grandparents in strengthening the family and community.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our senior citizens for their contributions towards family unity and nation building. Your involvement in the lives of your family and the community has helped to make this nation a successful and resilient one. I am sure your continued involvement will strengthen the parenting and grandparenting tradition, and the institution of the family, in our society.

This being Senior Citizens’ Week, and with tomorrow being Grandparents’ Day, may I take this opportunity to also wish all grandparents and senior citizens continued good health and happiness, and for everyone of you here a fruitful and successful seminar.

---------------------