‘Little Emperor’ in China

Recently in China, ‘Little Emperor’ has become the nickname for many children in the one-child families.  Due to the one-child policy, most Chinese families have only one child now and this one child is regarded as the treasure of the whole family.  The parents and grandparents try their best to satisfy the child’s need.  He can get whatever he likes and avoid whatever he dislikes.  It has been a common practice that the parents have to obey their child’s ‘order’.  As a result, the spoiled child become the ‘little emperor’ who rules the whole family.

This kind of doting on children will do great harm to them.  Under their parents’ protection, the children know only comfort and ease.  They are usually dependent in every way.  They don’t cherish what they get because get things too easily.  They are unable to cope with the difficulties which they will meet with in the future.  Moreover, too much praise makes the children proud, which further spoils them and renders them liable to develop all kinds of bad habits in the long run. 

So parents and teachers should be reasonably strict with these ‘little emperors’ and take measure to ensure their normal growth and development.  Firstly, they should be aware of the harmful effect of indulgence on the children.  Secondly, they should not hesitate to criticize or even punish them if they do something wrong.  Thirdly, parents should deliberately apply ‘hardship education’ to make them tough and independent.