Dropping birth rates
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This may have been written and commented on before, but I donÂ’t see any topics on this.
Why is our birth rate dropping? Why are there not enough babies?
This is my hypothesis.
Busy work life. WeÂ’re so busy with work, that we simply do not feel the urge to have sex when we see our spouses in bed. The bed literally
becomes a bed, allowing for people sleep in it. Lets take two extremes.
The life of accountants or lawyers <- Everyone knows that theyÂ’re too busy making money to have any spare time. True, they earn a lot, but at the expense of their free time. They reach home so drained to do anything, except to bathe, eat and sleep.
The life of normal 8-5 people <- These are the general average. Why are they not producing babies? They have enough time. They do have a life(at least I think so), but why no babies? Are they having trouble meeting people of the opposite sex? Are the girls too demanding, the guys too tired of their expectations? Or are the guys too shy? I donÂ’t know, please enlighten me people
And after all that, we all know the hassles a baby can bring. That is perhaps, the biggest barrier for a couple to face. If 2 parents are both 8-5 workers, who can take care of their child? Their parents? About that, we have to think about the increasing amount of elderly put in old folks home. Remember how it got so bad that a law was passed? The Maintenance of parents Act, S167B.
Most couples only want a baby when they feel that their family is secure, and they have enough money to spend and afford the best for their children. Some donÂ’t feel safe passing their babies to maids or parents.
This is the scenario that ensues.
1) The couple works and works, and finally, they realise that theyÂ’re too old for children. Not to mention the fact that money can never be finished earning. Humans always ask for more, we always Need more.
2) A baby is born, and the child is given all the best things that can be given. Except for all the good spankings and scoldings he should get. Why? The parents pamper him too much to do so. And they scold the teachers for causing distress to their children.
3) A baby is born, and the child is given to their parents, maids, because they can spend no time with him. A typical situation in which the baby is not given enough parental love and care.
This is where I see the direction for Singapore, with regards to our birth rate, is heading. It can only get downhill from here.
Please note that the author of this post(me), is just trying to express his views and fear of the future. Please do not flame him too much.
Comments are very welcome. -
u should go to suntec city at lunchtime...lots of pregnant officewomenOriginally posted by _Aaron_:This may have been written and commented on before, but I donÂ’t see any topics on this.
Why is our birth rate dropping? Why are there not enough babies?
This is my hypothesis.
Busy work life. WeÂ’re so busy with work, that we simply do not feel the urge to have sex when we see our spouses in bed. The bed literally
becomes a bed, allowing for people sleep in it. Lets take two extremes.
The life of accountants or lawyers <- Everyone knows that theyÂ’re too busy making money to have any spare time. True, they earn a lot, but at the expense of their free time. They reach home so drained to do anything, except to bathe, eat and sleep.
The life of normal 8-5 people <- These are the general average. Why are they not producing babies? They have enough time. They do have a life(at least I think so), but why no babies? Are they having trouble meeting people of the opposite sex? Are the girls too demanding, the guys too tired of their expectations? Or are the guys too shy? I donÂ’t know, please enlighten me people
And after all that, we all know the hassles a baby can bring. That is perhaps, the biggest barrier for a couple to face. If 2 parents are both 8-5 workers, who can take care of their child? Their parents? About that, we have to think about the increasing amount of elderly put in old folks home. Remember how it got so bad that a law was passed? The Maintenance of parents Act, S167B.
Most couples only want a baby when they feel that their family is secure, and they have enough money to spend and afford the best for their children. Some donÂ’t feel safe passing their babies to maids or parents.
This is the scenario that ensues.
1) The couple works and works, and finally, they realise that theyÂ’re too old for children. Not to mention the fact that money can never be finished earning. Humans always ask for more, we always Need more.
2) A baby is born, and the child is given all the best things that can be given. Except for all the good spankings and scoldings he should get. Why? The parents pamper him too much to do so. And they scold the teachers for causing distress to their children.
3) A baby is born, and the child is given to their parents, maids, because they can spend no time with him. A typical situation in which the baby is not given enough parental love and care.
This is where I see the direction for Singapore, with regards to our birth rate, is heading. It can only get downhill from here.
Please note that the author of this post(me), is just trying to express his views and fear of the future. Please do not flame him too much.
Comments are very welcome. -
me good citizen. me listen to gaberment
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Some possible contributing factors for falling birth rate:
1. rising cost of living
- this includes cost of raising children including education, esp at the tertiary level.
2. fall in average income, less job security etc.
3. general uneasiness with regards to our future.
4. people have no time to look after children(too busy working) -
Maybe the new laws that the government pumped in for money is working. It's one of the factors that stops people from having children after all.Originally posted by sidestep1984:u should go to suntec city at lunchtime...lots of pregnant officewomen -
i think the laws only work for pple who are already thinking of starting a family. For those who really don't want kids or think they can't afford to have kids, the monetary incentives are not attractive enough.Originally posted by _Aaron_:Maybe the new laws that the government pumped in for money is working. It's one of the factors that stops people from having children after all. -
Perhaps you would like to take a trip into the past and see why birthrate use to be high.
In the old days, technology is backward, no phones, no internet, no TV, no nothing. The sun sets, there is no light, everyone goes home, there is nothing to do, so . . . . . . .
In the old days, people gets married whenever they are fertile, though arranged marriage mostly. You have a husband/wife, what do you do? Well, do what a couple is suppose to do of course!
And to the modern times,
With good technology, you can work round the clock. Even if you don't work, there is so much entertainment. So, bed time activities reduces
We are freedom of love now, everyone loves it. But unfortunately, Ying Yuan does not seems to happen to everyone. For some, it even happens so late, that by the time it comes, the ladies are no longer fertile or can only bear one or two babies, unlike the olden times. My grandparents each has 10 childrens!!!
Also, in the old days, having a family is something natural, everyone will have it. In modern times, people starts to question why they even need to get married and have a family, especially among the well educated.
So, where is the problem? You decide. -
i think it is mainly due to the high cost of living in singapore
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if u have a son in s'pore u gotta offer him as an expandable bodyguard for the Party(NS).
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I guess its more because of the higher living costs and different social trends.
More women nowadays choose to pursue their own career as compared to perhaps 30 years back. They tend to marry late or put off having children as they do not want to be bogged down with staying at home to take care of the kids. Same goes for the men. After uni, its 25 years old. another 3 years of working before getting married? And another 2 or 3 years before deciding to start a family?
Huge work load, high social aspirations... Of course... a lower birth rate... -
High cost of living reason for not having children? If that is the case, then all the ancient people should not be having any children at all since they are all poorer than us.Originally posted by SnowFlag:i think it is mainly due to the high cost of living in singapore
Also, in that case, my parents should never give birth to me. By living standard, they are poorer than most of the current standard of living in Singapore.
What cost? From what I can see, people are classifying tuition, pre-school, child-care, maid, university fee, insurance, numerous toys all as "necessity" of having a child. You know, I never had any of those things while growing up. I had no child-care, no maid and I earn my own university fee. And I played the same toy probably throughout my whole childhood. My nephew's toy alone is already 100 times what I use to have and it is still growing everyday.
Think again.
Anyway, these new breeds of child growing up in those environment, I fear they will grow up not knowing how to be truely independent. The children of today's world are too pampered. And everyone seems to be forgoting moral education to the children now, thinking their sole responsibility is to fulfill the child's material needs. I fear for the future. -
As do i. Does better technology, better resources actually make our children more pampered?Originally posted by Qitai:High cost of living reason for not having children? If that is the case, then all the ancient people should not be having any children at all since they are all poorer than us.
Also, in that case, my parents should never give birth to me. By living standard, they are poorer than most of the current standard of living in Singapore.
What cost? From what I can see, people are classifying tuition, pre-school, child-care, maid, university fee, insurance, numerous toys all as "necessity" of having a child. You know, I never had any of those things while growing up. I had no child-care, no maid and I earn my own university fee. And I played the same toy probably throughout my whole childhood. My nephew's toy alone is already 100 times what I use to have and it is still growing everyday.
Think again.
Anyway, these new breeds of child growing up in those environment, I fear they will grow up not knowing how to be truely independent. The children of today's world are too pampered. And everyone seems to be forgoting moral education to the children now, thinking their sole responsibility is to fulfill the child's material needs. I fear for the future.
As i pointed out earlier, parents are much more protective of their children, because of so many factors; wanting them to be the best, etc.
10 years ago, when i'm the same age as my brother now, i didn't have a computer to play games with. No playstation, no nothing.
But look at him now, he plays at least 2 hours on the computer everyday. That's technically 2 hours less for him to socialise and make friends. We are also bringing our future generation a whole host of potential social problems.
What with the addiction to internet games that people have actually died, the exposure to sex and violence in the television, and so much more, its no wonder that parents are doting more on their children.
But maybe they should let them free, so that they can grow up more street-wise.
They are so many problems in the society today that were small and insignificant 10 years ago, that i don't know where i'm going with this, but yes, i fear for the future. -
Import China-man from FOB terms...
for defense, looks like those in MINDEF will welcome them with open arms...
furthermore , they got 3 million, and if they can send us about 100,000 of them...
=D -
Funny how you say that techology is a barrier towards communications. But, in fact, online gaming and sgforums does bring about social interactions with other people just in a different form. Internet gaming has brought about people from all over the world to come and play with each other.Originally posted by _Aaron_:As do i. Does better technology, better resources actually make our children more pampered?
As i pointed out earlier, parents are much more protective of their children, because of so many factors; wanting them to be the best, etc.
10 years ago, when i'm the same age as my brother now, i didn't have a computer to play games with. No playstation, no nothing.
But look at him now, he plays at least 2 hours on the computer everyday. That's technically 2 hours less for him to socialise and make friends. We are also bringing our future generation a whole host of potential social problems.
What with the addiction to internet games that people have actually died, the exposure to sex and violence in the television, and so much more, its no wonder that parents are doting more on their children.
But maybe they should let them free, so that they can grow up more street-wise.
They are so many problems in the society today that were small and insignificant 10 years ago, that i don't know where i'm going with this, but yes, i fear for the future.
We have to move with the times... its all about evolution.
Do you think the cavemen during the stone age would have looked at us and said, no no... why live in such high buildings? why do we not hunt for food or grow food in our homes? -
Is there a problem?Originally posted by Qitai:Perhaps you would like to take a trip into the past and see why birthrate use to be high.
In the old days, technology is backward, no phones, no internet, no TV, no nothing. The sun sets, there is no light, everyone goes home, there is nothing to do, so . . . . . . .
In the old days, people gets married whenever they are fertile, though arranged marriage mostly. You have a husband/wife, what do you do? Well, do what a couple is suppose to do of course!
And to the modern times,
With good technology, you can work round the clock. Even if you don't work, there is so much entertainment. So, bed time activities reduces
We are freedom of love now, everyone loves it. But unfortunately, Ying Yuan does not seems to happen to everyone. For some, it even happens so late, that by the time it comes, the ladies are no longer fertile or can only bear one or two babies, unlike the olden times. My grandparents each has 10 childrens!!!
Also, in the old days, having a family is something natural, everyone will have it. In modern times, people starts to question why they even need to get married and have a family, especially among the well educated.
So, where is the problem? You decide.
Whats your problem?
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You got problem?Originally posted by :Is there a problem?
Whats your problem? -
I'm asking you, is there a problem?Originally posted by Qitai:You got problem? -
Well, everyone seems to think that falling birthrate is a problem. Is it? What do you say?Originally posted by :I'm asking you, is there a problem? -
The government is just saying that falling birthrate arises to a macroecnomic problem.Originally posted by Qitai:Well, everyone seems to think that falling birthrate is a problem. Is it? What do you say?
But socially is it a problem in this current time?
Do people right now those who are say 16 - 75, if they want to start a family, say its a problem? -
I had the thought of our kids who stay at home to play with their games all day, without real human interactivity.Originally posted by :Funny how you say that techology is a barrier towards communications. But, in fact, online gaming and sgforums does bring about social interactions with other people just in a different form. Internet gaming has brought about people from all over the world to come and play with each other.
We have to move with the times... its all about evolution.
Do you think the cavemen during the stone age would have looked at us and said, no no... why live in such high buildings? why do we not hunt for food or grow food in our homes?
That poses a serious problem, for when they do not mix around when young, its harder for them when they're thrust into each other and forced to cooperate in some situations.
And dating... while the internet is definately powerful, online dating is ... something i'm still trying to chew on. -
Its as they call it, move with the times...Originally posted by _Aaron_:I had the thought of our kids who stay at home to play with their games all day, without real human interactivity.
That poses a serious problem, for when they do not mix around when young, its harder for them when they're thrust into each other and forced to cooperate in some situations.
And dating... while the internet is definately powerful, online dating is ... something i'm still trying to chew on.
There's so many instances of online romance that works and survives... just here at sgforums there people here who met their partners here...
There's even computer clubs in sec sch and in varsity as well... their purpose to just play games! haha... -
Well, personally, I don't see falling birthrate as a problem at all since I am guilty of not starting a family tooOriginally posted by :The government is just saying that falling birthrate arises to a macroecnomic problem.
But socially is it a problem in this current time?
Do people right now those who are say 16 - 75, if they want to start a family, say its a problem?
Macroeconomic problem? Maybe. But having a family is a personal choice. -
Don't think they'll let me set one up. hmm~Originally posted by :Its as they call it, move with the times...
There's so many instances of online romance that works and survives... just here at sgforums there people here who met their partners here...
There's even computer clubs in sec sch and in varsity as well... their purpose to just play games! haha...
I know... Technology is exactly like Fire, a double-edged sword.
What helps you can also harm you.
Guess all we can do is to expose our future generation to as much social interaction as possible, without overprotecting them. -
high cost of living. just like u spend over a million in total to get ur kid from P1 and to Uni just to get paid the salary of a diploma grad. and if dats not enough, u have Indians and PRCs coming over to snatch your child's ricebow and they are considered elites and are put on a pedestal although both your child and the Indian/PRC are both Uni grads.
MOE keep on changing things mth after mth, yr after yr....students don't get frustrated, parents will.
GST keep on increasing, by the time your child reach teen age, the GST will be around/at least 10% and dat is on top of the already high cost of living and GST will not stop increasing.
In a span of lesser than 10 years, a bowl of noodles jumped from 1.50 -> 2.50, a jump of 67%....wats more to come ?
transport fares also goes up and up and up even before u really get used to the last price hike.
u have experienced it, while yours is still just the tip of the iceberg, do u want your kid to experience it when u know its gonna be much worse than yours ?
Its better to teach someone how to fish or let them be able to catch fish easier than give them fish to keep htem going when they are at the brink of death. -
You! Its pple like you who're causing us troubleOriginally posted by Qitai:Well, personally, I don't see falling birthrate as a problem at all since I am guilty of not starting a family too
Macroeconomic problem? Maybe. But having a family is a personal choice.
Go have some kids if you can. Its for our future!
Don't you like kids? Don't you think they're cuuuuute? *psychos*