Monster Parents in Hong Kong (1)

We have talked about parenting in the US, the birth place of "Helicopter Parenting" and Japan and Korea, the countries that made "Monster Parenting" famous.  How about Hong Kong?

Let's start from a picture showing how different grown-ups sees " bring up kids" as:

top (from left to right): Society's view, Grandparents' view, Employers' view
bottom (from left to right): friends' view, parents' view, reality

This picture is not an accurate display (in fact more of a ridicule), but it is trying to show how "bringing up kids" can mean to different parties - some see kids as "King at home", some as "troublemakers", some as "warmth and love", some as "violence" and some believe that kids require intensive care.

Let's have a look at a short video to see another side of parenting:

This video displays some of the voice of monsters and/or helicopter parents.  Here is a summary of the things parents in Hong Kong would often do for their children:

1) send them to play groups or preschool cram schools - to get in front of other kids;
2) enter competitions, collect as many certificates and trophies as possible for kindergarten interviews;
3) playing English (music, radio, movies, cartoons, etc) since child's birth so to advance their language skills;
4) choose class subjects (from primary schools to university) and extracurricular activities that they find suitable for their kids;
5) provide 24 hours of care and protection to avoid their kids from making mistakes.

The picture and video are both conveying similar messages:

1) Parenting plays a very large part in life of Hong Kongers;
2) Adults seem to have a lot of worries for children in society.

Besides, there is an obvious trend that Hong Kong people tend to move things forward for their children.  In other words, parents prepare things ahead of times, so that when their kids get to the right age, they will already be well-equipped.  Indeed, even education has put everything forward for children.  The things I was studying in year 2 and year 3 as a kid, my cousins might have already covered them in year 1.  Things kids are learning now are much more difficult and complicated.

And this is why parents in Hong Kong are very sensitive.  Similar to Korea, they compete with their kids - the achievements of their kids means everything to parents - and sometimes the kids can be a show-off for them - "my kids are better than your".  They also want to send their kids to the top schools in town.

However, there is a critical difference - Hong Kong parents are trying to send their kids not to the best universities but to the best kindergartens/primary schools!!  The school network in Hong Kong is very unique.  Unlike Korea and other countries, Hong Kong is a city of high population density and little land, and students do not necessarily go to the local primary/secondary schools.  For the top primary/secondary schools in Hong Kong, many of them either are directly linked together or have close relationship with each other.

As Hong Kong only has 8 universities, to get into unis in Hong Kong, parents must first get their kids into the top primary/secondary schools for a good chance to get into universities.  This means not only the university entrance exam is important, but also the entrance interview to primary and secondary schools are of same level of importance to parents.  This explains why, as displayed in the picture above, the society has mixed feelings towards "bringing up children" and why parents spent so much effort to make their kids "the golden child".  Being parents in Hong Kong therefore can be extremely stressful anxious.

Here is a video clip, reporting that some parents are spending some tally $13,000 each month in order to send their kids to the best primary schools:

The below newspaper clip is another typical example that reflects the anxiety of Hong Kong Parents:

This is an advertisement, probably prepared by some typical parents in Hong Kong.  Let me translate the ad into English:

Recruiting for Family Teacher

Job Content:
1) Teach and educate (the child) all aspects of life from getting off bed to going to school.
2) Intensive Mathematics, English, Putonghua (all teaching materials prepared by teacher), piano teaching/training.
3) Train (the child) self-care skills, politeness, obedience, self-discipline.
4) Monitor work of maid at home.

Job Requirements:
1) at least 3 years of kindergarten teaching experience.
2) level 8 piano skills.
3) with knowledge of Child Psychology.

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat, 8am to 1pm

This may sound ridiculous, but this is a good example of Monster/Helicopter Parent in Hong Kong - high expectations, demanding but uncompromising attitude.  What do you think such phenomena can bring to kids in Hong Kong?  In fact, new terminologies such as "primary school chicks", "Kong kids" have become slang words in Hong Kong reflecting such kids.  This will be discussed in the next entry.