Singapore Armed Forces Officer Anil Sankar, helps his s<strong>on</strong>, Naren, who is physically disabled, get into a dinghy for his sailing less<strong>on</strong> at Changi Sailing Club.
7 Promoting family life and <str<strong>on</strong>g>Family</str<strong>on</strong>g> Life <str<strong>on</strong>g>Educati<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> (FLE) for all Good families equal str<strong>on</strong>g society A good family does not happen overnight but takes a lot <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time and effort to cultivate. Individuals need all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> help <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y can get to nurture and grow family relati<strong>on</strong>s. One form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> help is by way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FLE, a process that aims to streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n family ties. FLE programmes are like <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamins and physical exercise that families need to stay healthy. FLE programmes are well-established in countries like <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United States. These programmes address different aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> family life to empower <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual in his role and resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities as a family member, e.g., fa<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, wife, s<strong>on</strong>, daughter-in-law, or even grandchildren. Experts agree that each member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a family needs to be aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> big picture <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different stages <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> family life to perform his roles well. Increased awareness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what is needed at various stages is important to develop new and healthier patterns for growth. In Singapore, FLE programmes are c<strong>on</strong>ducted by different organisati<strong>on</strong>s, e.g., Voluntary Welfare Organisati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Family</str<strong>on</strong>g> Service Centres, religious groups such as churches and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) etc. The Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Educati<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> also c<strong>on</strong>ducts character development programmes for students in schools. There is a need for a framework to be in place to ensure that such programmes are readily available to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people through different delivery channels like <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internet. One focus <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FLE programmes is to improve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> parents in child-bearing and to encourage parental involvement in child-raising. Opportunities can be created for experts to give advice and for parents to share informati<strong>on</strong>. Homemakers like mo<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs play a significant role in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir children’s growth and development. They should be supported in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities, such as through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> setting up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a support group. Their needs and c<strong>on</strong>cerns should be highlighted, for example, retraining, re-joining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work force etc. FLE programmes should be practical and tailored to meet such needs and c<strong>on</strong>cerns. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nurturing work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> grandparents must also be recognised, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y form a pillar to support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir families. Ultimately, such FLE efforts must result in individuals who can relate life choices to priorities and resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities, and families that pass <strong>on</strong> positive values to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> young. 21
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