Do not over-protect children

It is common nowadays for parents to rent (or buy) apartments near their children's school to help them adjust to a new environment. With this year's new semester approaching, the craze to rent apartments has engulfed even some parents of kindergarten children. Such parents need to rethink what is best for the healthy development of their children instead of blindly following the trend, says an article in Workers' Daily. Excerpts:

Mencius' mother moved house thrice before she found the "right" place for her child's healthy development. Chinese parents not only admire this sacrifice, but also many of them would gladly do the same.

Nowadays, many Chinese parents either rent or buy a property to live near their children's school or college. Some women have even quit their jobs to become full-time peidu, or parents who stay near their children to help them in their studies. A recent Chinese Academy of Social Sciences survey showed that about 27 percent Chinese parents have chosen to become a peidu.

But this is not exactly what Mencius' mother did. Besides, by being near their children the parents do not necessarily help them. In fact, a peidu can cause more harm than good to a child, for he/she can stunt its normal development. Also, a peidu staying away from his/her spouse could harm the conjugal life and a working mother may be forced to quit her job. A person becomes a peidu to shelter his/her child in every possible way, but he/she should realize that over-protection lengthens a child's period of maturity and thus hinders the child's healthy development.

(China Daily 08/29/2012 page9)