Frequently asked questions about KidSTART and what we do

KidSTART Singapore is a dedicated agency that provides upstream support to eligible pregnant mothers and children up to 6 years old. As a national programme, KidSTART empowers families to build strong foundations for their children and foster positive child development outcomes by supporting caregivers with guidance on child development and monitoring the developmental progress of children from birth onwards.

Research suggests that experiences in a child’s early years significantly influence his or her long-term physical, cognitive and social development. 90% of a child’s brain is formed by age 5, and early experiences can affect the child’s brain development.

Parents are a child’s first teachers and often, the most important. KidSTART therefore aims to work with parents in providing the best care for their children. We hope to equip parents to know how to:

• Build nurturing relationships with their children,
• Support the age-appropriate development of their children, and
• Care for the health and social wellbeing of their children in their early years.

Depending on the child’s needs, KidSTART also works with various professionals, such as doctors, nurses and social workers, to support the child’s development.

Families with

• Pregnant mothers and Singapore-citizen children aged 6 years and below,
• A gross monthly household income of $2,500 and below or per capita income of $650 and below, and
• Residing in the following regions:

1. Kreta Ayer/Bukit Merah
2. Woodlands/Sembawang
3. Taman Jurong/Boon Lay
4. Ang Mo Kio/Yishun
5. Bedok/Geylang Serai
6. Choa Chu Kang/Bukit Panjang/Bukit Batok

Regions will be expanded progressively from 2023 onwards.

Families can register their interest to join KidSTART and agencies can refer families for the programme. Click here to find out more.

1. Child achieves age-appropriate developmental milestones
2. Child receives up-to-date immunisations
3. Child is attending preschool regularly
4. Parents have the knowledge and skills to promote a child’s health and development

KidSTART SG has supported over 6,200 children since 2016.

Through KidSTART’s support, parents were more confident in nurturing their child and have shared their desire to give their children a good start in life as they grow to appreciate the value of early childhood development. We have also seen parents benefiting from an increase in connectedness with other KidSTART families and from the enhanced social support provided by our practitioners and volunteers.