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Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally (NDR) 2026, held on 23 August, introduced several changes aimed at giving Singapore families more support as they raise children.
The announcements go beyond providing help during a child’s early years. They focus on supporting families over a longer period, with changes covering childcare leave, financial support, preschool costs, housing and assistance for larger families.
Here are the key changes Singaporeans should know.
More Childcare Leave for Working Parents
One of the biggest changes is an increase in childcare leave for parents with Singapore Citizen children aged 12 and below.
The existing childcare leave and extended childcare leave arrangements will be combined into a single scheme. Under the new arrangement, each eligible working parent will receive:
- 8 days a year for one child
- 10 days a year for two children
- 12 days a year for three or more children
This gives parents more time to manage caregiving needs, including when their children reach primary school age.
The Government will also cover the cost of all child-related leave, up to the applicable reimbursement limits. This includes childcare leave as well as Government-Paid Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave. Eligible self-employed persons will also continue to receive support for income lost while taking qualifying leave. The start date for the new childcare leave scheme will be announced later.
A New SG Child Support Package
Another major announcement is the SG Child Support Package, which will replace the existing Baby Bonus and Large Families schemes. Instead of financial support varying significantly by birth order, the new package provides more consistent support for every Singapore Citizen child.
For children born on or after 1 April 2027, support will include a S$10,000 Baby Gift paid in cash and S$32,000 in Child Credits, with S$2,000 paid annually from age one to 16.
Parents can also receive a S$5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant and up to S$5,000 in Government CDA co-matching. The CDA will remain open until the end of the year the child turns 16. This will give families more time to use the funds and benefit from co-matching. When the child turns 17, another S$10,000 will be credited to the Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) to help with future education costs.
Together, these measures provide up to S$62,000 under the SG Child Support Package. When existing benefits such as the MediSave Grant for Newborns and Edusave contributions are included, a Singapore Citizen child can receive around S$70,000 in direct financial support from birth to age 17.
Continued Support for Larger Families
Families with three or more children will continue to receive additional help where their expenses are likely to be higher.
The Government is reviewing how the existing S$5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant can be repositioned and extended to more large families.
Additional support for transport costs is also being planned, while further housing assistance for larger families is under study.
Childcare and Infant Care to Become More Affordable
Preschool costs are also set to fall significantly over the next few years. At Government-supported preschools, full-day childcare fees are targeted to fall to S$150 per month. The full-day infant care fees will be reduced to S$300 per month, before means testing.
The reductions will begin progressively from 2028, with the target fee levels expected to be reached by 2030.
Full childcare and infant care subsidies will also eventually be extended to families with Singapore Citizen children regardless of whether the main applicant is working. The Government also plans to expand its network of supported preschool operators and strengthen the infant educator workforce.
More details on these changes are expected in 2027.
Better Housing Support for Growing Families
The NDR announcements also recognise that housing needs often change as families grow. Starting from the February 2027 sales exercise, first-timer families with or expecting children will receive one additional ballot chance for every Singapore Citizen child aged 18 and below.
This will apply when families apply for both Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF). This will give growing families a better chance of securing suitable housing.
What National Day Rally (NDR) 2026 Means for Singapore Families
The family measures announced at NDR 2026 represent a shift towards supporting parents throughout more of their child’s growing years.
More childcare leave gives parents additional time for caregiving, while the SG Child Support Package spreads financial assistance from birth through the teenage years. Lower preschool fees and additional housing support address two other major costs faced by young and growing families.
These announcements are also only the first set of recommendations from the Marriage & Parenthood Reset Workgroup accepted by the Government. A fuller set of recommendations is expected in early 2027, so further changes to Singapore’s marriage and parenthood support could follow.
National Day Rally 2026 FAQs
What is the National Day Rally?
The National Day Rally (NDR) is an annual speech by Singapore’s Prime Minister that highlights the country’s key priorities, challenges, and major policy plans for the years ahead.
What are the changes introduced in NDR 2026?
NDR 2026 introduced more childcare leave, a new SG Child Support Package, additional support for large families, lower preschool fees, and stronger housing support for growing families.
What are the key highlights of Singapore’s National Day Rally 2026?
The key highlights of Singapore’s National Day Rally 2026 include more childcare leave, stronger financial support for children, lower preschool fees, additional help for large families, and improved housing support for growing families.
Why is National Day Rally organised?
The National Day Rally is organised to update Singaporeans on key national issues, explain the Government’s priorities, and announce major policies and plans for the country’s future.
What does the changes in NDR 2026 mean for the employers?
For employers, NDR 2026 states that childcare leave will be reimbursed by the government, capped at S$500 a day, or S$1,500 a year.
