Chinese children are losing their childhood?

China
May 2, 2012 10:22pm CST
This morning before my daughter went to school. I carried her schoolbag and it was very heavy. I weighed it, it was about 9 Kgs! That means every day she takes such heavy things to school. She is only a primary school girl. Every evening, she has to do her homework to late. I know it is very normal in China. I can't help wondering,do Chinese children have happy childhood?
4 responses
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
3 May 12
My son is grade 2 pupil and his bag is about 6kgs and it is also very heavy for such a little child. And I agree with you that our children are losing their childhood because most of their time is spent on study. They hardly have their spare time to do whatever they like. Even if they have some free time, they still have to go to the classes such as music, painting, English and so on. The study pressure is so heavy here. I try not to push my child so much. I hope he will enjoy study. So in the weekend we often go out to have outdoor activities. I love China
• China
3 May 12
It is wonderful for you to take your son out at the weekends. I also did it before, but now my daughter is now in Grade 6 and is very busy with her lessons. She will be graduated in a months. I hope the time can pass more quickly.
@smilemoon (766)
• United Arab Emirates
8 May 12
The half of my little sister is only a bag LOL. May God help these children and keep them well.
@lady1993 (27224)
• Philippines
4 May 12
Kids still get to play on breaks and after school- they always manage to squeeze a time for playing even if they seem so busy.. I remember when i was little, I also carried lots of books, since there was a book for every subject and it was heavy, but then i ot used to it and every next year, the bag got lighter.
• Philippines
4 May 12
I think it is becoming the trend in modern school children, not only in China but other countries as well (well, mostly Asian countries because the regard for education is very very high). children are pressured to do work better at school in terms of knowledge and applications. I always thought that each succeeding generation have a double edge sword when it comes to knowledge - they have the latest developments and they benefit from technology like the media and the Internet but at the same time, it is burdensome because they experience information overload. You don't know what is true and proven and what is false and made-up. Personally, I don't think the abundance of knowledgeable reflects on the quality of education. My younger cousins are often more lazy in their studying and I am often ask to tutor them because they would rather play than study (in opposite situation of your child). Others, are pressured to do better since they are competing for less number of slots. Back in the day, it was already quite competitive and now. it's worse.