Government will continue efforts to make Singapore a great place for families: DPM Teo

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Mr Yau Wai Man encouraging his nine-month-old son Aden during the Diaper Dash race, on Sept 3, 2017. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
DPM Teo joining other participants in cheering on babies during the Diaper Dash, at Safra Punggol on Sept 3, 2017. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
DPM Teo Chee Hean carrying seven-month-old Reagan Choe at the "My Family Fiesta - Making Singapore a Great Place for Families" event on Sept 3, 2017. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE - It was race filled with a number of unwilling participants. Some refused to start, others started crying midway, while one attempted a u-turn as he reached the finish line.

The crowd however remained patient and still cheered the racers, who got hugs and kisses at the end.

The unwilling participants were aged between six months and year and were taking part in a quirky three-metre race called the Diaper Dash.

More than 500 babies joined the event which was held at Safra Punggol this weekend as part of a festival celebrating families.

Besides family games and activities, talks on early childhood nutrition and parent-child communication were also held at the "My Family Fiesta - Making Singapore a Great Place for Families".

It is organised by Safra Punggol and HeyBaby, a community movement to celebrate and support marriage and parenthood.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary and Member of Parliament Sun Xueling, who are all MPs for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, attended the event.

Mr Teo, who flagged off one of the Diaper Dash races, said he was glad to see the good turnout of families at the event and added that the Government will continue its efforts to make Singapore a great place for families

Mr Teo also called on the "wider community - family, friends, employers and co-workers" to support families and "to make marriage and parenthood achievable, enjoyable and celebrated".

During the National Day Rally held last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the Government will double the annual spending on pre-school education in the next five years, from $840 million in 2017 to $1.7 billion in 2022.

An additional 40,000 pre-school places will also be added and 35 Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens set up in the next five years.

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