A disturbing video showing a teenage boy hitting and kicking a girl during a public argument recently went viral, sparking a wave of outrage across Singapore. According to reports, the altercation took place near a school campus and involved two teens in a relationship. The video, shared widely on social media, shows the boy kicking the girl’s legs and hitting her on the head. Several bystanders witnessed the incident, with one stepping in to stop it.
While the police have been alerted and investigations are ongoing, the incident has raised deeper questions beyond just teenage tempers — what are our children learning about love, respect, and conflict resolution at home?
Kids Learn by Watching: Why Our Behaviour Matters
Children are like mirrors. The way we speak to our spouse, respond to stress, or handle disagreements are all absorbed — and later reflected — by our kids.
If children grow up in homes where yelling, belittling, or even physical aggression is common, they may begin to normalise those behaviours. And that includes how they treat others in their own relationships later in life.
Research has shown that children exposed to family violence are more likely to exhibit aggression, struggle with emotional regulation, and replicate unhealthy behaviours in their own friendships and romantic relationships.
Love Should Never Hurt: Teaching Healthy Relationships Early
The viral video serves as a painful reminder of how early toxic patterns can begin. As parents, it is never too early to talk to our children about what respect looks like — and what it does not.
Here is how you can start modelling love, not violence:
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Set the tone at home. Speak respectfully, even when you are upset. How you handle frustration teaches your child how to handle theirs.
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Talk openly about emotions. Validate your child’s feelings and help them name what they are going through: I see you are angry — do you want to talk about it?
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Teach consent and boundaries. Explain that no one has the right to hurt them — and they should never hurt others either, even with words.
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Correct, but with care. Discipline should be about teaching, not punishing. Avoid physical punishment, which can teach kids that hitting is a way to solve problems.
When Kids Witness Abuse: Do Not Stay Silent
If a child has witnessed or experienced violence — whether at home, in school, or online — it is important to seek support early. Emotional wounds may not be visible, but they run deep.
Here are some resources that can help:
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ComCare Hotline: 1800-222-0000
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Fei Yue Community Services: www.fycs.org
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AWARE Singapore: www.aware.org.sg
What Values Are You Teaching at Home?
It is easy to blame peer pressure, social media, or bad influence for teen violence. But more often than not, the roots go deeper — into the homes they grew up in.
Let us raise children who know how to disagree respectfully, who know love is patient, and who never think hurting someone is okay.
Because it all starts with the example we set.
What values are you modelling at home today?
