Singapore Introduces National Strategy to Promote Children's Health
The Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE), and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) have launched a national strategy called Grow Well SG to improve preventive care and promote healthier lifestyles in children and adolescents. The strategy focuses on children up to 12 years old and will be extended to older children in the future.
Preschools: No screen use for infants up to 18 months. Screens can only be used for teaching and learning purposes for children aged 18 months to six years.
Maximum of one hour of screen time per day outside of school.
Less than two hours of screen time per day, unless related to schoolwork.
Personalized health plans: MOH will introduce personalized health plans for Primary 1 to 3 students during their annual school health screenings.
Grow Well SG will also target poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, and insufficient physical activity through focused interventions.
MOE has provided more detailed guidelines on managing students' use of smartphones and smartwatches in primary and secondary schools.
Research: Local cohort studies have shown the negative impact of excessive screen use and unhealthy habits on children's health and development.
MOH believes there is enough evidence to take action and prevent further harm to children's health.
The strategy focuses on early intervention to build healthy habits from a young age.
Preschools: The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will update its code of practice for preschools, effective February 1, to mandate the new screen use guidelines.
MOE will provide schools with resources and support to implement the new guidelines.
MOH and MSF will work with parents to educate them about the importance of healthy habits and provide them with tools and resources to support their children.
Overall, Grow Well SG is a comprehensive strategy that aims to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents in Singapore.
7 Comments
Pupsik
The government should trust parents to make responsible decisions about their children's health and development.
Marishka
The strategy is based on research evidence demonstrating the negative impacts of excessive screen time and unhealthy habits on children's health and development.
Pupsik
The collaboration between MOH, MOE, and MSF ensures a coordinated and comprehensive approach to promoting children's health.
Marishka
Early intervention is crucial to preventing health issues related to excessive screen time and unhealthy lifestyles.
Pupsik
Instead of focusing on what kids shouldn't do, the strategy should promote healthy activities and encourage a balanced approach to screen time.
Donatello
The strategy provides parents with resources and tools to help them understand the importance of healthy habits and implement the recommended guidelines.
Raphael
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds may be particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of unhealthy habits. This strategy can help ensure that all children have an equal opportunity to develop healthy habits.