Our study has been recognized for its contributions to understanding early childhood development, with findings cited in parliamentary debates and ministerial speeches. This page highlights how our research has informed and shaped public discourse, providing valuable insights to support evidence-based policymaking.
14 June 2025 | Kids do better on tests, have fewer behavioural issues when dads take 2-week paternity leave: Study | The Straits Times
Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport, calls [SG-LEADS] “an important study supporting what we know anecdotally, that strong paternal bonds enhance children’s cognitive and socio-emotional development”.
21 January 2025 | Grow Well SG to Support Families in Building Healthy Habits in Children | MOH Press Releases
The Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) have jointly launched Grow Well SG, a new national health promotion strategy to enhance preventive care and inculcate healthier lifestyles in children and adolescents. The multi-ministry strategy is aimed at holistically addressing children’s health and well-being in the digital age. Grow Well SG has been informed by findings from studies like Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) and Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) to emphasise early intervention in key areas, to help children establish healthy lifestyle habits from young. (Section 4)
13 November 2024 | Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill | Official Reports – Parliamentary Debates
Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon), called for more targeted support for lower-income fathers to take their paternity leave, quoting Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS)’s findings, that that fathers in more labour-intensive or lower-income roles are less likely to take paternity leave.
16 May 2024 | Speech by Minister Indranee Rajah at the Population Association of Singapore Conference 2024 | National Population and Talent Division
Minister Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development, gave the opening speech at the Population Association of Singapore Conference 2024, highlighting how the SG-LEADS findings on positive effects of paternal involvement on marital satisfaction and child development, have been useful to the government in policy making to better support fathers and families.
18 November 2023 | Opening Remarks by Minister of State Sun Xueling at Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Early Childhood Care & Education Conference | Ministry of Social and Family Development
Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development, brought up findings from our Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) regarding the impact that early childhood caregiving has on children’s cognitive and socio-emotional development, during her opening remarks at Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Early Childhood Care & Education Conference. (Section 4)
18 September 2023 | Opening Speech by Ms Sun Xueling for Second Reading of Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill | Ministry of Social and Family Development
In her opening speech for the Second Reading of Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill, Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development, spoke about the findings on effects of paternity leave utilisation gathered from the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS). (Section 13)
3 March 2023 | Committee of Supply – Head O (Ministry of Health) | Official Reports – Parliamentary Debates
At the Committee of Supply – Head O, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health, quoted evidence from Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) showing that fathers play a sizeable role in the development of a child’s self-regulation and ability to delay enjoyment.
27 October 2022 | Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli at the Launch of the Inaugural Child Conference | Ministry of Health
Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health, spoke about the Child and Maternal Health and Well-being Taskforce reviewing evidence-based research findings like Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS), in his speech at the launch of the inaugural Child Conference. (Section 11)
11 October 2022 | Welcome Remarks by Mr Masagos Zulkifli at ECDA Scholarships and Training Awards Presentation Ceremony | Ministry of Social and Family Development
In his welcome remarks at the ECDA Scholarships and Training Awards Presentation Ceremony, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health, encouraged early childhood educators to tap on research literature like Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) to develop strategies to help children, also citing our findings on delay of gratification as an important predictor of the child’s developmental outcomes later in life. (Section 9a)
5 April 2022 | Singapore Women’s Development | Official Reports – Parliamentary Debates
Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon), quoted findings of “positive relationship between paternity leave provision and family dynamics and children’s well-being in Singapore” from Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS), when proposing for more paternity leave in Singapore.
2 March 2022 | Committee of Supply – Head U (Prime Minister’s Office) | Official Reports – Parliamentary Debates
At the Committee of Supply 2022 debate, Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon), made a call for policies to help increase usage of paternity leave for fathers in more labour-intensive jobs, quoting findings from Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS), that showed such fathers were half as likely to take paternity leave than other fathers.
1 March 2022 | Debate on Annual Budget Statement | Official Reports – Parliamentary Debates
Dr Shahira Abdullah (Nominated Member of Parliament of Singapore) shared findings from Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) on the impacts of Covid for lower-income families, affecting them the hardest physically and mentally.
08 October 2021 | Opening Address by Mr Masagos Zulkifli at the Launch of SingHealth Duke-NUS Maternal and Child Health Research Institute | Ministry of Health
Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) was mentioned in the opening address by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health, at the launch of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Maternal and Child Health Research Institute. (Section 4)
24 February 2021 | Debate on Annual Budget Statement | Official Reports – Parliamentary Debates
Findings on the impacts of poor diet and food insecurity in children from lower-income families, from the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG LEADS), were quoted by Mr Don Wee (Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC), in the parliamentary debate on the annual budget statement.
Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) 