If there’s one parenting trend we’re loving (and living) in 2025, it’s this: you don’t have to do it alone.
Across Singapore, more families are embracing community-based and intergenerational parenting. This is an intentional return to raising children with the support of extended family, friends, and a little modern kampung spirit.
Gone are the days when parenting was a solo mission or a pressure cooker of perfection. Now, parents are leaning into shared caregiving, grandparent involvement, and peer support. Not just for convenience, but for emotional, developmental, and cultural reasons that go far deeper.
What is community and intergenerational parenting, really?
In Singapore, this looks like grandparents playing an active role in childcare, school runs managed by trusted aunties or friends, and families creating parent pods to share routines or responsibilities. It’s also about building community around you—from your condo’s WhatsApp group to your preschool parent circle.
Expert take:
“When children grow up surrounded by multiple generations, they develop stronger emotional regulation, identity, and resilience,” says Dr. Tan Mei Ling, a child psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health Singapore. “Grandparents offer not only caregiving support, but intergenerational wisdom that shapes a child’s sense of belonging.”
Why intergenerational parenting matters in 2025
Let’s be honest: parenting in Singapore can feel intense. From enrichment planning to the myth of ‘supermum’, we’re constantly asked to juggle. A community-based model helps ease that load while building a healthier, more connected home environment. And it’s not just feel-good fluff. Studies show that children who grow up with involved grandparents and caregivers exhibit better behavioural outcomes, stronger cultural identity, and enhanced social skills.
“We always say, ‘It takes a kampung to raise a child’, and it’s true,” says Priya, mum of two in Bishan. “My mum picks the kids up twice a week, and my neighbour and I take turns hosting playdates. It’s not just helpful, it keeps me sane.”
How to nurture your modern kampung
Ready to embrace the power of shared parenting? Here are tried-and-true ways families in Singapore are doing it.
1. Involve grandparents with intention
Don’t just assume help, build trust through open communication. Share parenting preferences (like screen time limits or routines) and invite them into rituals, not just emergencies. Tip: Have grandparents lead cultural traditions, like dumpling-making, storytelling in dialects, or gardening. It deepens bonds while passing on heritage.
Chris’s thoughts: My parents drive my daughter to her job each Saturday and with this weekly time together she told us she found it difficult to make conversation. This experience and challenge has been great way develop her social skills and role-play in a safe environment.
2. Create or join a parent co-op
Can’t lean on extended family? Create your own village. Start a support group with neighbours or fellow preschool parents to share pickups, weekend activities, or childcare swaps.
Where to start: Try groups on Peatix, Meetup, Facebook, or even your condo’s WhatsApp chats.
3. Choose public spaces that encourage cross-generational play
Singapore’s public spaces are perfect for multi-gen bonding. Bring grandparents along to Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, join a reading session at library@harbourfront, or head to East Coast Park for a picnic.
Try this: Check out The Artground, a family-friendly art space that hosts workshops loved by both toddlers and their doting grannies.
4. Build shared routines (big or small)
From Sunday lunch at Grandma’s to bedtime video calls, little rituals create big emotional connections. “My daughter FaceTimes her Ye Ye every evening just to say goodnight,” says Amirah, mum of one in Tampines. “It’s five minutes, but it means the world to both of them.”
5. Celebrate shared parenting out loud
Talk to your kids about how lucky they are to be supported by many. Highlight the value of every person in their caregiving circle, and yes, include the teacher, helper, and neighbours!
Pro parenting tip: Create a “my village” photo wall in your home. Let your child see the faces who love and support them every day.
Final thoughts from Chris:
At HoneyKids, we believe in parenting with purpose and community. And if there’s one shift we’re thrilled to see, it’s this return to something beautifully timeless: raising children together. So whether it’s calling on grandparents more, organising that co-op playdate, or just accepting help without guilt, your kampung is out there. And parenting becomes a whole lot more joyful when you don’t go it alone!
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