What would you consider a large family?

[i think]

four is too many and selfish. A drain on resources of the Earth. I know that people have 4 and them want discounts for courses, schooling etc also. Should have really thought about those things before having 4.

[scorn]

Of course it's silly to say large families are selfish, but let's pursue this line of reasoning for a second.

Most of the world's health and pension systems are pay as you go, in which there are no savings accounts holding real money for the aging generation. Instead, the younger generation pays for the services of the older.

Now, many of these systems are bankrupt today. There is no way they can meet the promised obligations. So who is going to pay for them?

The kids we have today. And if you don't have kids, or many of them, yet still expect to receive health and pensions benefits, then you are a free rider. The family with several kids is not.

[Same in 'the west']

We have 4 children; never was our plan, but now we could not be happier that it worked out that way.  Yes, it's excruciatingly expensive, especially when it comes to writing the cheques for school fees, but to 'I think', we have never asked for discounts on anything.  It's also a real test of our time management skills.

We get shocked looks everywhere we go about the size of our family; no less so in Europe, US or Australia than here in Asia (although the looks on people's faces in China when they count the children are classic).

[mostly in expat circles?]

Expat families with three or more children are rare. As someone already said, they are expensive because of the school fees, flights, medical coverage etc that a family would usually need. Four years teaching at an international school and I've only met one family with four children - and they went home after six months.

Having said that, four kids in a family would be getting large at home too, but certainly not unusual. I think four is the tipping point of a "normal sized" family because you can't get six people into a norma car or a three bedroom house etc. A minivan and a larger house in the burbs is not a big deal for many people at home, but it means serious money (or serious squash) in Singapore.

I have two kids now, but I want two more. So Singapore is obviously not the place for us long term! 

[mediumfamily]

Most people I know have 2 kids, these days 4 is large. When I was a kid three or four would have been average.

[well]

strange, I found out that here in Singapore expats tend to have more kids than back home (Europe)...so it looks that the companies are not that stingy and actually pay for 3, 4 5 school fees...most families I know have 2, 3, or 4 kids, even 5...not the norm anywhere else.

[Here]

Maybe highly-qualified, well-to-do families can afford to have more children.  Also, divorced couples also have an extended family in the form of step-children.

[3 is OK, lah!]

I have 3 kids...alot of Singaporeans look interested in us out and about. When they ask me how many I have, their answer tends to be: Two boy, one girl, ah? Three kids - jus' nice - lah!
I take this as approval, but maybe they are just being polite.

[to scorn]

so scorn - you think you should have a HUGE family to subsidise the elderly. That causes a vicious circle of more elderly. So you think we shopuld then have even more children. Get a grip. Too manby people is destroying the environment - so if we are not careful there will be no resources for your elderly anyway.

[Rabbit Monster]

To OP, yes, you have a large family and should use birth control.

[Dr. Phil]

It's interesting to view the posts on this thread when a simple question is immediately related to corporate package or freeloading off the state.

We should focus on the children who may feel deprived when they are growing up, but later are very proud of their parents.
I think with a family of two children, they tend to compete and fall out a lot.
With three children there is the risk of two making the third lonely; too much politics.
Four is a good number but I don't consider that to be a large family.

I think the larger the family, the children are happier and well-balanced however it is more expensive. Since today's consumer generally values a product by its price rather than its utility, spending on family is by far better value.  

Regardless of all considerations, if parents want a large family they should be encouraged and supported unless the family size has its origins in religion or welfare benefits. I was at school with a boy who had fifteen siblings.

So I firmly reject any interference by state to dictate such a personal and private right.
Having said that I might not strongly object to the castration of immigrants and Catholics.  
Perhaps just mutter some inaudible protest quietly to myself?