http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20090313/tap-041-singapore-short-60-000-births-ne-231650b.html

Still not enough babies to fight aging population in Singapore

Singapore is reportedly still shortof 60,000 babies to counter our aging population despite the efforts made by the local government during the past 5 years, to encourage citizens to give birth. Some examples of the government's initiatives include the baby bonus, extended maternity leave for mothers and domestic helper subsidy.

Financial aids appears to work as the extra push to have children, and if they already do have children, to have even more of them; however, the problem may be more skin deep than it seems.

Due to the strong influence of the western culture on the younger generation in Singapore, many couples are now more up for lovebirds marriage life, rather than rush to family planning straight after marriage. Cost of living and raising a child also deters Singaporeans against having children or more children. In addition, the younger generation often avoid shouldering responsibilities like bearing and raising a child. Such characteristics of the Singaporean generation now greatly lower the appeal of such financial aids provided by the government.

The government should therefore shift their focus to educating the citizens, in particular those that fall under the age of 21 to 40, as they belong to the group of Singaporeans most likely to be at the phase of their life where they may consider doing some family planning.

By playing up the importance of family life, citizens may start to comprehend the need and joy for family starting and expansion to complete their life. This can be done through planting such pro family planning messages in media mediums such as in movies, drama serials, even songs, and on the prints.

Long- distance relationships

requires the same amount if not more effort in maintaining, and are usually strained by the lack of communication between the two parties. It is however way easier for couples to communicate with each other with the modern technology available nowadays, as compared to 10 years back.  Back then, the only form of communicating across national borders was through snail mail. It is an ineffective mode of communication for interpersonal relationships as it is not transactional and although it may be interactive feedback and response takes a long time to take place. This sometimes frustrates the parties especially when it comes to times of arguments and urgent issues that requires immediate attention.

On the contrary it is now much easier to maintain or even heighten relationship with the help of technology such as through video calls, online chat, now more affordable international phone calls and text messages as well as email! Through these means of communication, the parties of the relationship tend to feel less separated, have more involvement in each other's life and maintain more trust in the relationship. In this case, distance does indeed makes the heart grow fonder and not further! 

 The lack of communication and low rate of exchange may create distrust between the parties, sometimes encouraging actions that undermine the other party's trust, and decrease the level of closeness and intimacy between both parties over prolonged period of physical separation. Therefore, in order to make  long distance relationship work out, it is best to sign up for skype, a free online international call program, purchase a webcam and use them regularly to establish trust, sense of closeness and sense of security in the relationship! Somehow by seeing the other party of the relationship on camera rather than not at all during the period of physical separation, does make seeing him or her in flesh again seem less intimidating. It may be due to the the reduction of the element of surprise or shock (depends), when the each party knows roughly what to expect when its time for the happy reunion!