Boy held in ‘cage’ while mother works puts spotlight on inadequate childcare options in China

The woman said she had no alternative because the boy’s father does not take care of the child

It placed the spotlight on childcare difficulties that would force someone to make this decision

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A video of a child being held in a cage while his mother worked has gone viral in China. Photo: SCMP composite

Published: 6:00pm, 4 Jun 2022

A video of a small child being kept in a “cage” underneath a metal pushcart prompted a discussion in China about how a lack of childcare options for poor people could push someone to make such an extreme decision.

In a 12-second video circulating online, the boy, who lives in Tongren City, in the southern province of Guizhou, is seen reaching through the bars towards the camera as he moves around what appears to be a makeshift cot. Signage in the video indicates that the mother sells iced jelly desserts for a living.

The unnamed woman told Wanxiang Media, a news company, that she feels bad for the child and understands he “has a tough life”. But, she said, it is the best of bad choices because the boy’s father “is the sort of person who does not care and only plays video games all day”.

The mother held this boy in the cage because she needed to be able to monitor him while she worked. Photo: Weibo.

She added that she allows her son to play outside the cage when there are no customers around.

The mother received a lot of sympathy online in part because the cage was kept clean, had a blanket as a mattress and there were toys placed inside it. Her situation seemed to point to a poor woman who struggled to find childcare alternatives rather than a case of child abuse.

One person wrote on Weibo: “This is pitiful. Don’t we have affordable childcare institutions?”

Another said: “Poor baby and poor momma. If I had one wish I would provide everyone with the basic means to live, without them having to sacrifice their peace and happiness to try to make a living”.