S’porean woman, 31, flings & slaps boy, 3, in preschool, gets 5 months’ jail

A 31-year-old Singaporean woman was sentenced to five months’ jail after physically abusing a three-year-old boy.

She pleaded guilty to one charge under the Children and Young Persons Act and was sentenced on Jul. 27, CNA reported.

The incident locations were not disclosed as a gag order was imposed to protect the victim.

The woman's identity will also not be revealed.

Pre-nursery

The boy was a pre-nursery student in the preschool.

He was placed under the care of the woman, who was a teacher.

On Sep. 12, 2025, at about 10:30am, the boy was reportedly sitting on the floor outside his classroom crying.

Another teacher informed the woman of the incident, and she walked out of the classroom.

In charge sheets seen by Mothership, at about 10:36am, the woman proceeded to fling the boy to the ground.

The crying boy then slapped her thigh.

The woman slapped his hand in response.

This commotion reportedly drew the attention of other teachers, and the woman closed the classroom door.

She scolded the boy and also slapped his face twice, causing him to hit his head onto a cupboard beside him.

Intervention

When the school principal approached the classroom, she witnessed the slaps and intervened, and carried the boy out.

The school principal then informed the boy’s mother of the incident.

When the boy’s mother questioned him, he initially denied the woman’s actions.

However, he later said the woman had told him not to tell his parents about it.

The boy's mother proceeded to lodge a police report.

Denial

When interviewed by police, the woman denied the allegations even after being shown surveillance footage of her slapping the boy.

She claimed it was merely a nudge to the side of his head.

The prosecution sought a minimum of eight months’ jail for the woman.

They argued that she violated the trust placed in teachers to care for children.

They further argued that the boy did not move away from the woman even after being physically abused multiple times, and he could only scream and cry.

The prosecution also noted that the woman had compensated the boy's family S$15,000.

For ill-treating a child, the woman could have faced a jail term of up to eight years, a fine of up to S$8,000, or both.