SYNOPSIS
It is recognised in Singapore’s social policies that family is the primary source of care and support for its members. As a transforming society, the Singaporean family’s well-being is constantly being inundated with stressors from within and outside. Individuals’ happiness is closely intertwined with the state of their family relationships. It is thus essential for adults in the family to keep family ties strong across generations and to look at ways to strengthen the family in times of need through the life cycle. This seminar will highlight the current research updates on how to enhance resiliency in the family in the midst of challenges faced by adults in the family, in particular parents who have to care for young children and youth at the one end and also to provide care and support to ageing parents at the other end. This seminar will focus on four key areas that adults in the family would have to deal with effectively.

1. The Kite Story – A Relational Way of Parenting
   This segment will explore with parents/mentors the benefits of parenting children the relational way. Through a metaphor of kite-flying, parents/mentors will be able to intuitively follow a “framework” of influencing children in a positive manner. The talk will also allow parents/mentors to reflect on their parenting/mentoring styles.


2. Resilience when Death Occurs
   Everyone’s grief is unique and it is important to appreciate how death impacts. This talk will look at building emotional resilience when grieving a death and how one can begin to find stability and peace of mind.


3. Occupational Stress & Work-Family Balance
   The idea of occupational stress – its causes, consequences and management – is examined from an industrial-organizational psychology perspective. Adults in the family are burdened by rising cost of living and demands of caring for the children and aging parents on top of managing the strain of working and establishing a career. The implications on work-family balance which influence family well-being will be deliberated.


4. Intergenerational Caregiving
   It is often a challenge for adults at midlife to provide caregiving especially to their aging parents as this additional caretaking demands will strain their physical and emotional needs when personal focus and energy levels are changing. This talk will focus on intergenerational dynamics in caregiving of older adults in the family. Living arrangement of family members in relation to older adult members will also be examined.