Quick answer: the National Day Rally on 23 August 2026 announced more childcare leave, a new SG Child Support Package worth up to $62,000 per Singapore Citizen child, much lower fees at government-supported preschools from 2028, and an extra flat ballot chance for families with children. Some of these have dates attached. Several important details, including when the new leave starts, have not been announced yet.

Big announcements tend to reach parents in fragments: a headline on the phone, a figure repeated in a group chat, a colleague who heard something slightly different.

This is a plain summary of what was announced for families with young children, what it means in practice, and what is still to be decided. It is not advice on your own situation. For eligibility and the latest details, the official source is madeforfamilies.gov.sg, and that is where updates will appear.

Childcare leave

What was announced. Childcare leave will be merged into one scheme covering children aged 12 and below.

  • For children aged 0 to 6, leave goes from 6 days a year to 8.
  • For children aged 7 to 12, it goes from 2 days a year to 4.
  • The Government covers the cost, up to the reimbursement limit.

What it means. Parents of preschoolers get two more days a year, and parents of primary school children double theirs. For families juggling sick days, holidays and the ordinary surprises of family life, that is meaningful.

Not yet decided. The start date is to be announced later. Until then, the current leave arrangements continue.

The SG Child Support Package

What was announced. The SG Child Support Package replaces the Baby Bonus and Large Families schemes. It provides up to $62,000 per Singapore Citizen child, from birth to 17, made up of:

  • A $10,000 Baby Gift in cash, paid in two tranches within 12 months of birth.
  • $32,000 in Child Credits, at $2,000 a year over 16 years.
  • A $5,000 CDA First Step Grant into the Child Development Account.
  • Up to $5,000 in CDA co-matching, with co-matching extended to age 16.
  • A $10,000 PSEA top-up in the year the child turns 17.

All birth orders get more support than before.

What it means. The support is spread across childhood rather than concentrated around birth: cash in the first year, credits every year through the school years, and a larger top-up to the child's Post-Secondary Education Account in their late teens.

Worth checking. If your child was born recently or is due soon, look at madeforfamilies.gov.sg for how the change applies to you, rather than relying on second-hand summaries, this one included.

Preschool fees

What was announced. At government-supported preschools, full-day childcare fees are to fall to $150 a month, and infant care to $300 a month, before means-testing. That is less than half of today's levels. The change will be rolled out progressively from 2028, with the target levels reached by 2030.

Full subsidies will also be extended to families with Singapore Citizen children regardless of the main applicant's working status.

What it means. Over the next few years, full-day care at government-supported preschools is set to become substantially cheaper, and full subsidies will reach families where the main applicant is not working.

Not yet decided. The details, including how the rollout will be phased between 2028 and 2030, are expected in early 2027. Because the change begins from 2028, a family with a child in preschool today should plan around current fees and subsidies for now.

Housing

What was announced. First-timer families with or expecting children will get one extra ballot chance for BTO and SBF flats for each Singapore Citizen child aged 18 and below. This starts from the February 2027 sales exercise.

What it means. Families applying for their first flat with children get better odds in the ballot, and families with more children get more extra chances.

What comes next

A fuller set of recommendations is due in early 2027, alongside the preschool fee details. Expect more announcements then, and expect some of today's summaries to need updating.

A few practical thoughts

  • Wait for the details before big decisions. Several start dates and mechanisms have not been published.
  • Use the official source. madeforfamilies.gov.sg is where the confirmed details will be. Online summaries go out of date quickly.
  • Keep an eye out for your employer's update on childcare leave once the start date is known.
  • Ask preschools directly. If you are choosing a preschool, ask each one how fees and subsidies currently apply there, and what they know about the changes.
  • Do not let the headlines rush you. The right preschool for your child is still the one where they will be settled, happy and well looked after.

Where we fit in

Our job does not change with the headlines. Settled children, steady routines, plenty of play, and honest conversations with families about what matters to them.

If you are thinking about preschool for 2027 and trying to make sense of your options, we are always happy to talk it through in person, and to answer the questions that matter for your family.

Shaws Preschool has supported Singapore families across the East Coast and Serangoon since 1989. Come and see our rooms and ask us anything: book a tour.