World · East Asia & Pacific · 22 hrs ago
Chinese Parents Pay for Children to Attend Hardship Camps
Some parents in China are paying for their children to attend summer camps designed to teach them about hardship.
The camps operate in southwestern provinces including Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan.
Children do farm tasks such as digging and selling potatoes, feeding animals and cutting wood.
One camp charges more than 4,000 yuan for 10 days, while a month-long stay can cost more than 10,000 yuan.
Organizers say the aim is to show children how difficult it can be to earn a living and to help them appreciate their families and comfortable lives.
Camp rules can be strict: children may lose access to their phones, and those who do not finish tasks may have to eat only potatoes for a day.
Some online commenters praise the idea, while others warn that excessive work could harm children’s physical and mental development.
Some parents in China are paying up to 10,000 yuan, about 26 million rupiah, to send their children to hardship camps.
The camps put children to work at tasks such as digging, selling potatoes, chopping wood and feeding livestock.
Organisers say the programs aim to teach children how difficult it is to earn a living and help them appreciate their families and comfortable lives.
Children may face strict rules, including having their phones taken away and eating only potatoes for a day if they fail to complete tasks.
Some online commenters praise the camps, while others warn that excessive work could harm children’s physical and mental development.
- Who
- Chinese parents are paying for children to attend the camps.
- What
- The camps involve children doing farm and other manual work to experience hardship.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- Camps in southwestern Chinese provinces, including Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan.
- Why
- Organisers say the camps aim to teach children about the difficulty of earning a living and encourage gratitude.
Supporters of hardship camps
Critics of hardship camps
Purpose
Supporters of hardship camps
They say facing hardship can help children appreciate comfortable lives and understand the difficulties of earlier generations.
Critics of hardship camps
They warn that excessive workloads could harm children’s physical and mental development.
Pengalaman anak-anak kita di perkemahan musim panas ini mencerminkan kesulitan nyata yang dihadapi generasi kita. Kita ingin memberi mereka kehidupan yang lebih baik, tetapi mungkin tanpa sengaja telah memanjakan mereka. Mungkin menghadapi kesulitan penting bagi anak-anak agar bisa menghargai kehidupan nyaman mereka.
Banyak anak hanya menerima pendidikan di ruang kelas perkotaan. Beban kerja yang berlebihan dapat berdampak negatif pada perkembangan fisik dan mental mereka.
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- Maximum reported fee
- More than 10,000 yuan, about 26 million rupiah, for a month
- Shorter camp option
- More than 4,000 yuan, about 10 million rupiah, for 10 days
- Provinces mentioned
- Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan
- Possible punishment
- A child who fails to complete tasks may eat only potatoes for a day
- Phone rule
- Children’s phones are taken away during the program
Sources
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