Xiao Ba Wang in Mainland
![](Social%20Issues/Parent/parent4.jpg)
A
typical xiao ba wang’s room(Barry Wu)
By Barry
Wu
The problem
of lenient parenting is more obvious in mainland China than in Hong
Kong because of China’s one-child policy.
“Many
parents on the Mainland put all their love on their only child,”
said Feng Jingwen, a Year 1 exchange student from China studying Hotel
and Tourism
Management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. “These children
are known as the ‘xiao ba wang’ of the family.”
Literally,
“xiao ba wang” means a little commandeering king.
It implies that a child is self-centered and receives great care from
his or her “courtiers”.
Said Ms.
Feng: “These children can ask for whatever they want, provided
that their parents can afford it.”
Ms. Feng
claims that she is not a “xiao ba wang” specially
“protected” by her parents. However, many of her friends
are.
“One
of my friends is very quiet at school, and she cries when scolded by
teachers. I was just shocked when I visited her home. She shouted loudly
at her parents, and her parents just allowed her to do so.”
In recent
years, the examination period has become the most important season for
parents.
“This
is particularly the case for university entry exams. Parents think that
this is a matter affecting the whole life of their children,”
said Ms. Feng.
In fact,
parents spend a lot of money to ensure their child’s well being.
According
to Ms. Feng, many parents rent a flat in the suburbs so their child
can have a conducive studying environment.
To make
sure their child eats well, some parents go to the rented flat every
day to cook for their children.
They also
buy health supplements such as chicken essence, ginseng, Chinese herbs
and vitamin pills.
“During
this period, children vent their frustrations on their parents. Parents
do not get angry because they do not want to affect their child’s
mood,” she
said.
During
her 4 months here, Ms. Feng has observed that Mainland students in Hong
Kong cannot live independently.
She said,
“Many of us do not tidy up our rooms and never cook, because most
of us do not need to do such things at home.”
Main
story: Lenient parenting
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