19th September 2026

They Never Labelled Him As A Spoiled Child

At six, Xodus Soh was navigating a season of major transitions, with his family moving house twice and him entering primary school. For a child who thrived on routine and predictability, the changes unsettled his sense of security and he struggled to regulate his emotions, leading to frequent outbursts and difficulty settling into two different student care centres.

“Xodus has always needed more time to build relationships and develop trust with the adults caring for him,” reflected his mother, Bernice, an early childhood educator. “When people misunderstood his behaviour instead of taking the time to understand what was behind it, it became difficult for him to adjust and feel that he belonged.”

Everything changed when Xodus joined MWS Christalite Student Care Centre.

Grown at his own pace

The first six months were especially challenging. Losing a game, feeling left out by friends, or being corrected could trigger emotional outbursts in Xodus. Unsure how to express his emotions, he would resort to screaming and shouting or withdrawing into tears.

“It often took us a long time to calm him down,” recalled his teacher, Winnie Tan. “Back then, he was also unwilling to share what was wrong.”

“They never labelled him as a spoilt child,” Bernice said. “Instead, they looked beyond his behaviour and understood what he needed.”

Xodus’ teachers started with small, practical steps, such as encouraging him to write down his thoughts when words were difficult. “Sometimes, when he did something wrong but didn’t know how to apologise, we taught him to write the word ‘Sorry’,” Winnie recalled. Putting his thoughts on paper not only helped Xodus calm himself, but also gradually gave him the confidence to express himself verbally. “Now, he knows to say ‘sorry’ when he does something wrong, and instead of having a meltdown, he’ll say, ‘I’m feeling angry’ and explain why,” said Winnie.

This has improved Xodus’ relationships with his peers. “His classmates are now more willing to be in the same group as him and play with him,” Winnie observed. “Sometimes, they even approach him for help with their drawings because he’s very good at colouring.”

Learning the skills to thrive

Beyond academic support and enrichment activities, Xodus also participates in values-based programmes that nurture his character and emotional growth. Now in Primary 5, he often takes the initiative to help those around him – rolling up the younger children’s mattresses after nap time, carrying tables for tea breaks, and assisting his teachers without being asked.

Looking back over the past four years, Bernice described her son’s growth as “tremendous”. The boy who once had meltdowns when things did not go his way as learnt to accept boundaries, control his emotions, and see things from other people’s perspectives. “He no longer insists that everything has to be done his way and has learned to compromise, communicate, and build meaningful friendships,” she said.

“When we enrolled Xodus, academics were never our biggest concern. What mattered was whether he could develop the social and emotional skills to thrive. Looking at him today, we’re simply amazed.”

When we enrolled Xodus, academics were never our biggest concern. What mattered was whether he could develop the social and emotional skills to thrive. Looking at him today, we’re simply amazed.

– Bernice on her son’s journey of growth

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They Never Labelled Him As A Spoiled Child

Grown at his own pace

Learning the skills to thrive

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