Children are the makers of our nation’s future.
Did you know that it is important for a child to develop his/her core values from young? Inculcating the right values will have a great impact on their future!
Read on to get a glimpse of What Singapore Thinks are the top 3 values to teach their children!
Instilling Asian Values
Besides being recognised as a melting pot of cultures and races, Singapore is also a society where Asian values influence our upbringing.
Such Asian values highlight the interest of the community over individuals. It emphasises on behaviour such as empathy, consideration for others, and respect for authority.
Hence, it is no wonder that the top 3 values that Singaporeans would like to pass on to their children are associated with serving the community!
This is opposed to self-serving values on the bottom of the list, such as creativity (9%) and curiosity (7%). However, it is interesting to note that some values that serve the interest of the community such as obedience (8%) and tolerance (8%) are less prioritised.
While there are similarities (e.g. being responsible) amongst Singaporeans, there are also subtle differences among the ethnicities. For example, when it comes to empathy for others, it is the most important value for the Eurasian community (46%). Meanwhile, the Indian community places more importance on being well-mannered (38%), with empathy coming a close second (35%).
The most prominent differences are within the Chinese and Malay communities.
Traditions in the Chinese culture
The top 3 values that Chinese respondents want to instil in their children are – being responsible (50%), filial piety (31%) and empathy for others (30%). As these values are part of Confucius’ teachings, it suggests that traditions are still rooted in the Chinese community.
Religiosity in Malays
Given that religion is an important aspect of the Malay culture, it comes as no surprise that religious faith (38%) is the 2nd trait that most Malay participants want their children to have. Being responsible (52%) and being well-mannered (38%) are also at the top of the list.
Despite the common values that Singaporeans want our children to develop, there are also variations such as traces of Confucianism in Chinese, and religiosity in Malays. These mirror our unique societal makeup, where everyone is similar yet distinctly different.
Food for thought: As globalisation exposes Singapore to even more cultures, will our principles change or remain steadfast in time to come?