Summary of What Grow Well SG is, An Initiative to Build Good Habits for Kids

By
Noreen Shazreen
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It’s tough being a parent in the digital era.

The rise of “iPad kids” has brought challenges such as shorter attention spans, difficulty focusing on tasks, poor dietary habits… and the list goes on.

In light of these growing issues, the Singapore government has stepped in with a new initiative aimed at tackling these problems head-on.

The initiative, called Grow Well SG, launched on 21 January 2025, aims to empower families to encourage children to adopt healthy habits.

This includes putting down their mobile devices, eating well-balanced meals, staying active, and getting sufficient sleep.

In essence, the goal is to raise a generation of healthy individuals who are not perpetually attached to their electronic devices, as is increasingly common these days.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Health (MOH), the multi-ministry strategy seeks to holistically address children’s health and well-being in the digital age.

The Health, Education, and Social and Family Development ministries have come together to break unhealthy habits currently prevalent in society.

Here’s a summary of what the initiative entails and how it can help develop good habits in young children across Singapore.

Personalised Health Plans for Primary 1 to 3 Students

From 2025, all children in Primary 1 to 3 will receive a personalised health plan as part of the initiative.

While most children in Singapore are generally in good health, many have already developed unhealthy habits, such as excessive screen time, poor diets, insufficient exercise, and inadequate sleep.

These habits could lead to serious consequences later in life, including rising mental health issues, which are already prevalent among young people.

The personalised health plan aims to encourage children to make healthier lifestyle choices and integrate these habits into their daily lives, thereby preventing illnesses as they grow older.

The overarching goals are to eat well, sleep well, learn well, and exercise well.

Parents will begin the process by completing a questionnaire about their child’s current habits at the start of the school year. Based on this information, healthcare personnel will provide a “lifestyle prescription” during the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) annual school health screening programme.

This plan, along with health screening results, vaccination records, and referrals to public healthcare institutions if necessary, will be consolidated in the child’s health plan, which parents can access via the HealthHub digital health platform.

Focus on Building Family and Social Connections 

The initiative also places emphasis on fostering strong family relationships and healthy social connections with friends, recognising these as essential components of a healthy lifestyle.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung highlighted during a press conference that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are crucial for developing good habits that significantly impact their long-term health.

Studies also show that early lifestyle habits affect brain activity, cognitive development, and executive function—key factors in how children learn and process information.

Stricter Screen Use Guidelines

A key aspect of the initiative is the updated screen use guidance aimed at promoting purposeful screen time and reducing overuse.

Assistant Professor Evelyn Law, who contributed to the updated guidelines, emphasised that one significant addition is the recommendation for parents to avoid giving their children unrestricted access to mobile devices.

This measure aims to prevent gaming addiction, which studies show is more prevalent in Singapore than in many other countries.

Starting 1 February 2025, pre-schools will adopt a revised Code of Practice specifying that children under 18 months old should have no screen time. For children aged 18 months to six years, screens may only be used for teaching and learning purposes.

Other guidelines include limiting screen time outside of school to less than one hour a day for children aged three to six, and no more than two hours for those aged seven to 12.

Parents are further advised to restrict young children’s access to mobile devices and social media entirely.

Comprehensive Student Health Status Cards in Primary Schools

To better support student health, the MOH and the MOE will introduce Student Health Status Cards in all primary schools. These cards will include lifestyle data, allowing schools to identify and address the specific needs of their pupils.

HPB will also collaborate with canteen vendors to provide healthier food options by helping them source lower-cost, nutritious ingredients through the Healthier Ingredient Development Scheme.

Minister of State for Education Gan Siow Huang stressed that while schools will do their best to instil good values and habits in children, parental involvement is essential for the initiative’s success.

Initiative to Extend to Older Age Groups

Grow Well SG will initially focus on children aged 12 and below, with plans to expand to older age groups in the future.

The initiative builds on existing efforts, such as the Child and Maternal Health and Well-being Action Plan introduced in 2024.

For younger children, MOH will roll out a Childhood Health Behaviours Checklist later in 2025.

This checklist will be integrated into the seven routine childhood screenings conducted during the first six years of life, assessing areas such as growth, motor skills, and language development. It will help identify children at risk of developmental delays and provide early intervention if needed.

Further details will be announced by MOH in the coming months.

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Noreen Shazreen
Email: [email protected]