TikTok Video Prompts Discussion
Singaporean content creator and TikTok user @/rohinislm, who now lives in Canada, recently sparked conversation with a candid video about why she is hesitant to raise her future children in Western countries.
In the widely viewed clip Rohini shares her concerns about cultural differences, education, and childhood exposure in the West compared to Singapore.
“I’m hesitant to raise my kids in the West as a Singaporean,” she says in the video. “There is such a lack of respect between children and elders, especially to parents and teachers. Talking back is so normalised.”
She also flagged issues like early exposure to drugs and oversexualisation. According to observation, high school students in the West sometimes glamorise drug culture and act way older than they are.
“Call me a tiger mum, call me a strict mum,” she adds.
“As someone that experienced the Asian education system, it has really set me up for success in the West. The syllabus is very structured and well thought out. There’s a reason why Asian education systems are always so well spoken of.”
Why She’s Speaking Up Now
The WUSG team asked Rohini for more input on her timing of making the post. She says it is because she is hitting her late twenties and, naturally, is thinking about where she would like to settle down—and yes, raising kids is part of that plan.
“Raising children is a big factor,” she explains.
“I’ve been reflecting on how different environments shape children’s values and habits, and how this could impact my future family.
It also feels timely because many Singaporeans abroad often discuss this tension between East and West, and I wanted to give voice to it.”
Personal Experience vs Community Observations
Is this just her personal stance? Not entirely. Rohini says it is a mix.
“On a personal level, I’ve observed how children in the West tend to be given more freedom, which can sometimes lead to unhealthy habits developing at a young age,” she says.
“From a community perspective, I’ve seen how children raised in Singapore often have stronger grounding in respect, discipline, and moral values, though of course there are exceptions everywhere.”
She also points out that in the West, behaviours like drinking or exposure to drugs and dating at a young age are more normalised, while Singaporean families tend to have tighter boundaries.
Schooling Differences That Matter
Schooling is undoubtedly an important aspect in shaping children’s mindsets and values. Compared to the more structured and disciplined Asian public education system, Rohini breaks it down simply,
“Western public schooling tends to be more relaxed and less rigid in comparison. However, Western private schools often resemble Asian systems, with stricter discipline and higher expectations.”
“This means, in Asia, parents may lean on schools to instill discipline, while in the West, parents may need to take more responsibility at home to ensure structure and values are passed on,’ she says.
But It’s Not All Bad
But Rohini’s perspective is not just one-sided. She sees perks in raising kids in the West, too.
“Creativity and individuality are nurtured much more, which gives children room to explore who they are. Career paths beyond the traditional doctor-lawyer-engineer route are taken more seriously, such as pursuing athletics, arts, or entrepreneurship.”
She also says that children raised in the West often build strong critical thinking skills and confidence in expressing themselves, which are highly valuable in today’s global environment.
The trick, she expresses, is balancing cultural values with adaptation.
“Cultural values must be reinforced at home if you are living in the West. In Singapore, we’re fortunate that our education system integrates mother-tongue languages and cultural teachings,” she explains. Thus, she adds, parents have to be more intentional about passing it down in the West.
Her takeaway: let kids socially adapt, but make sure they grow up knowing where they come from.
“Home life should preserve cultural traditions, languages, and values, so they grow up with the best of both worlds.”
Striking a Chord
Her video has clearly struck a chord. Singaporeans abroad, parents, anyone navigating parenting across cultures—many are nodding along, debating, and sharing their own stories.
One thing stands clear: values, schooling, and upbringing matter a lot, no matter where you live.
Watch Rohini’s video here:
@rohinislm why I am hesitant to raise my kids in the west as a singaporean #sgtiktok #singapore #livingabroad #immigrant
@rohinislm what do you think? These are my pros of raising a kid in the west – ps recovering from a cold so I’m so nasaly #sg #sgtiktok #singapore #livingabroad
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