Opening a new chapter in parenting

Two recent headlines have reignited a familiar debate about parenting and family education. On June 15, the United Kingdom announced a ban on a range of social media apps for children under 16, saying the move aims to "give childhood back to children".

Earlier in the month, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joked that "once you've been raised by Asian parents, you need therapy for life".

Juxtaposed, these otherwise unrelated remarks raise a critical question: What challenges does family education face in the age of artificial intelligence, particularly in Asia?

The UK's observation that today's children are growing up in a world where "technology has invaded every area of life" aptly captures the environment shaping the youngest generation.

Huang's self-deprecatory quip, made days ahead of the college entrance exam, or gaokao, triggered a heated debate over Asian — especially Chinese — parenting. As usual, opinions were sharply divided.

But Huang's reflection was itself two-sided. It was not merely a criticism of Asian parenting, as some have framed it.

While joking that he was criticized all his life — alluding to the East Asian tendency to tell children they are never quite good enough — he also credited that upbringing for making him tougher. In his view, Asian children often grow into adults who are exceptionally resilient.

Any discussion on Asian-style parenting or family education must move beyond simplistic praise or blame. Take China as an example. It is undeniable that many families impose high standards while falling short on emotional communication, leaving some children with psychological scars.

Yet Chinese families almost universally regard education as central to a child's growth, emphasizing foundational skills such as math and language as a means of securing a competitive advantage.

This rigor and measured pressure can foster resilience and drive, which is a likely factor behind the consistently superior academic performance of East Asian students globally.

This parenting style has historical and cultural contexts. Rooted in Confucian traditions and embedded in the national psyche, it is a value system based on the belief that "jade must be polished to shine". It is also a mirror of a parental mindset shaped by hardship.

Generations who lived through social upheaval and scarcity made it their life's mission to ensure the security of their children. They rarely verbalize their affection and express their love through sacrifice, investing everything in the education of their children. This has been the defining trait of Chinese parents for decades.

Clearly, Asian-style parenting should not be dismissed outright. But we also cannot ignore the fact that the emerging AI era may pose sharper challenges here than elsewhere.

As AI reshapes how children learn and grow, the limitations of traditional models are becoming increasingly apparent.

Problems linked to AI — from over-reliance on technology to emotional detachment — may get amplified in East Asian societies, compelling a fundamental rethink.

For instance, if traditional East Asian family education leans too heavily toward knowledge over capability, there's an urgent need to correct this.

As AI takes over repetitive and memory-based tasks, human strengths — creativity, imagination, interpersonal skills — become paramount.

Grades may determine short-term outcomes, but mindset shapes lifelong trajectories. Parents must get over their obsession with scores and prioritize holistic development, moral grounding, innovative thinking and critical inquiry to encourage exploration.

Similarly, the rise of AI risks fostering children's dependence on digital companionship, including chatbots — a likely reason behind the UK's social media ban. In cultures already criticized for limited parent-child interaction, this risk intensifies. The temptation to outsource parenting to AI warrants still more serious caution.

The home is the first school of life, and parents are a child's first teachers. In China, family education has evolved from a private matter into a national priority.

From the first Five-Year Plan for Family Education in 1996 and the National Family Education Guidelines in 2010 to the Family Education Promotion Law enacted in 2021, China's approach has steadily become more systematic and institutionalized.

Encouragingly, as Gen Z and millennials become parents and social norms evolve, the traditional archetype is also shifting.

Many see this as a conscious effort to break cycles of intergenerational trauma and build healthier family relationships. Clashes between old and new mindsets might persist for some time to come, but a new era of family education has undoubtedly begun.

The author is chief researcher at the China Watch Institute, China Daily.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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