Her mother, surnamed Tan, said: "I used to tell my daughter off at times, but it didn't work. Gradually, I found that communication is more effective," she said.

"Children may not understand parents' thoughts well because we usually look into matters from different perspectives. So, I often talk with my daughter to help her understand my thought process," she said.

Nowadays many teenage girls "fall in love" at an early age, which makes parents quite worried, Tan said. "I note that my daughter seems to have some feelings for boys as she often sends SMSs to some of her classmates. I never stop her from doing so. Instead, I've told her that puppy love is not a priority at her age."

In addition, traffic accidents have become one of the major reasons for student deaths in the city, with 16 students dying in road crashes last year. In 2008, the figure was only five.

Education authorities have called on traffic departments to improve traffic management and ensure road safety near schools and residential areas.