Nothing -- nothing -- has more impact in the life of a child than positive relationships.
Dr Peter Benson
Whether it's the feeling of loneliness or unmet expectations, all of us have experienced some level of disappointment in our family relationships.
Here are some challenges facing families today:
22 families
Singaporean families are torn apart by divorce each day
Singapore Department of Statistics, 2021
At least 1 child
Is involved in these divorces
Intergenerational Effects of Divorces on Children in Singapore, Ministry of Social and Family Development, 2019
Tricia was all ready to quit after seven years of marriage.
The endless communication breakdowns, deep-seated misunderstandings and growing resentment in her has taken its toll.
1 in 3
Young people locally experience mental health symptoms, including feelings of anxiety, loneliness and sadness, due to challenges faced in studies and relationships.
The Straits Times, May 2022
I have a distant relationship with my dad.
Nashwa barely talks with her dad because she gets emotional when she does.
70%
Parents feel that they are too busy to enjoy quality time with their children
Focus on the Family Singapore Parents Survey, 2022
1 in 4
Experience stress or negative feelings when their child wants their attention
The Straits Times, Oct 2021
Bee Ping has a 4-year-old son.
She is often stressed and upset, as she doesn’t understand why her son always cries and wants to get her attention.
A thriving family is a work in progress
No family is perfect, but we believe that with the right help and tools, every family can be so much more. For the past two decades and more, Focus on the Family Singapore has taken an upstream approach -- providing families with relevant and practical programmes and resources at every stage in life.
Why we invest in family
Strong marriages between a husband and wife provide the best outcomes for children.
Strong marriages between a husband and wife creates the best environment for raising emotionally resilient kids. Research shows that strong marriages benefit children as they are more likely to enjoy emotional and behavioral well-being (Brown, 2004).
I was all ready to quit after seven years of marriage. The endless communication breakdowns, deep seated misunderstandings and growing resentment in me has taken its toll.
Thankfully, my husband was not ready to quit so I casually suggested counselling. I was pretty indifferent in the first couple of counselling sessions but gradually found myself opening up to the counselor and then eventually, to the problems we faced on hand.
For the first time in my marriage, I actually felt heard. The counsellor helped us to effectively identify the deep seated problems and when these were resolved, she moved on to equip us with the skills necessary for a fulfilling marriage. Ever since we sought forgiveness from each other, we took steps to engage in heartfelt conversations and became more mindful of each other’s needs. This ultimately led to our reconciliation.
Tricia, Mum
Tricia, Mum
"Is the resource credible or not?"
As a parent myself, sometimes we need to talk to someone to understand and get untangled in our parenting journey, and most of us look for resources online but we ask, "Is the resource credible or not?"
Focus offers many resources that are credible and filled with nuggets of wisdom by experienced parents, and good techniques and strategies we can learn from, and apply them accordingly to what we need in our own journey.
Edwar, Father
Edwar, Father
Thanks Focus on the Family Singapore for the handy kit!
Was pretty upset with my son over his behaviour earlier in the day. Then we chanced upon the Focus on the Family booth where the staff gave out the ‘Love Your Mum’ handy kit.
He filled the card on the train while I snoozed… and when I woke, he gave me a card and said it will surely make me laugh. Instead, I teared. Thanks Focus on the Family Singapore for the handy kit!
Jessica, Mum
Jessica, Mum
Strong developmental relationships help children succeed.
Family is the biggest source of where youths can acquire the most developmental assets (The Search Institute, 2017).
Strong parental support is critical in developing a child's emotional resilience and is associated with more positive problem-solving behaviours. (Focus on the Family Singapore, 2021).
Thank you Focus on the Family
"Focus helped me see that preventive family education is key. More families should work on forging better and stronger relationships because when we strive to be supportive and close-knit families, Singapore will thrive."
Nurin, 17, Student
Nurin, 17, Student
Through FamChamps, I learnt to put my family's needs before my own.
“My family relationships were strained as I often got into trouble at school. Through FamChamps, I learnt to put my family's needs before my own. Honour Night was the first time in 3 years that we enjoyed a proper meal together."
Brenda, 14, Student
Brenda, 14, Student
Strong families contribute to strong businesses and communities.
When families are strong, businesses experience lower rates of absenteeism and presenteeism, with increased rates of productivity, long-term profitability and socio-economical benefits.
The ROI for a company’s investment in the physical & relational wellness of their employees ranges from US$1.50 - $6.85 (Turvey & Olson, 2006).
Find out more about our work
At Focus, we are dedicated to work towards a Singapore where family continues to be valued and prioritised, the state of the family is secured, and every child experiences a loving home marked by intimate husband-wife relationships and affirming parent-child interactions.
