Mr Keith Magnus, Chairman: Families for Life Council,
National Family Festival Organising Committee, and
Distinguished Partners, Volunteers, Families, and Friends,
1 Good afternoon. It is a joy to be here today, not just to recognise the success of the National Family Festival or NFF, but to celebrate the people who made it possible: the partners, volunteers, and families who all gave their time, energy, and heart to this shared goal.
Celebrating NFF2026 and Our Partners
2 This year marks NFF’s 5th anniversary – a meaningful milestone in our efforts to strengthen family ties and affirm the importance of family in our society. As Mr Magnus shared, NFF2026 reached over one million participants. Behind that number are real families – grandparents, parents, and children - who came together, laughed together, and grew closer because most importantly, of the work all of you have done.
3 Over the past month, we have organised activities that strengthen families at home, at work and at play. Our families are facing new challenges such as how screen use has impacted family life. To support digital parenting, “Screen Smart from the Start” was launched at the NFF Family Carnival @ Expo. This is a nationwide movement to foster healthy digital habits from a young age with the collective efforts of our government, corporate, and community partners.
4 Another highlight of NFF was the “Happy Kicks, Happy Kids” football clinic organised by McDonald’s Singapore in partnership with the Centre for Fathering and Families for Life. Families spent a meaningful day out at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre, where young aspiring footballers and their families shared the pitch with local football heroes. Through sports, families can bond with each other and they can create lasting joyful memories.
5 Workplaces, too, play a vital role in supporting families. Families for Life partnered corporates such as ST Engineering, OCBC, and JTC to organise initiatives including Bring Your Kids to Work Days and Family Days. From facility tours to children’s camps, these were heartwarming reminders that family lies at the heart of all that we do. Thank you to our workplace partners for recognising the working parents in our midst, and for creating opportunities for understanding between parents and their children.
6 I was also touched by the groundswell of support from our volunteers, who came together from all walks of life to support and even co-create family-friendly activities and ground-up activities across Singapore. Thank you for your dedication to building strong families and a family-friendly society – your impact has been felt throughout NFF2026, and will continue to be felt long after.
Key Insights from Family Trends Report (FTR)
7 The third edition of the Family Trends Report will be released today. I am pleased to share that families in Singapore continue to be strong and resilient, forming the bedrock of our society. Allow me to share a few key insights from this year’s report.
8 On marriage and parenthood, recent marriage cohorts have shown greater stability, and most married Singaporeans continue to report strong and fulfilling relationships, with nearly 95% of married couples reporting being happily married.
9 I am particularly heartened that fathers are playing an increasingly active role in parenting, with take-up rates of Government-Paid Paternity Leave increasing from 47% for children born in 2016 to 61% for those born in 2024. This has been supported by the recent enhancements in shared parental leave provisions from 6 weeks to 10 weeks. This month, we will be disbursing the next tranche of Child LifeSG Credits to provide even more support. We hope that these measures will give parents – especially those caring for the very youngest – the confidence and resources they need.
10 There is also greater access to affordable and quality preschools. Cohort enrolment rates of children aged three to four years have risen from 73% in 2015 to 91% in 2025. We hope more Singaporeans will want to start and grow their families. At MSF, we will continue to journey with the preschool sector to enhance the access and quality of the preschool education, as well as fostering strong parent-preschool relationships.
11 Lastly, I am glad that our families remain resilient and close-knit. Compared to 2023, more families reported moderate to high family resilience, and nearly 9 in 10 Singaporeans reported having a close-knit family in 2025. Even as caregiving demands grow along an ageing population, families continue to step up, with the majority being willing to provide financial, emotional, and physical support for their family members who need it. MSF will continue partnering the community to strengthen family resilience across generations. Some of these initiatives include partnerships with youth communities such as For Real Co. on improving interpersonal relationships, and the Connecting our Generations campaign in October to celebrate intergenerational bonding.
Strengthened Partnerships with Corporate Partners
12 The family continues to be a key source of joy, purpose, and strength for many Singaporeans. Families flourish when they are surrounded by communities, workplaces and partners who make family life easier and more rewarding.
13 Beyond NFF, corporates have stepped up to reaffirm their long-term commitment to Singapore’s families. Today, MSF will be signing several MOUs with key corporate partners, including:
- Mandai Wildlife Group,
- McDonald’s Singapore,
- NTUC Women and Family,
- SBS Transit, and
- Standard Chartered Singapore.
14 These partners will contribute in different ways – from promoting family-friendly workplace cultures amongst their own employees, to delivering nationwide impact through collaborations on Families for Life’s campaigns. Together, they will leverage their strengths to broaden yearlong access to family-focused programmes. Let me encourage more corporate partners to join us on this mission - come onboard the Families for Life Movement, support your employees in their balancing of work and life, and reap the rewards of a more engaged and committed workforce.
Conclusion
15 Family begins with each one of us – in the everyday interactions we share with our loved ones, and in our collective commitment to Singapore’s families. Today, let us celebrate the community of diverse partnerships that has made NFF2026 a success, and look ahead for a renewed resolve to build the support systems that will help Singapore’s families thrive for generations to come.
16 Thank you.