https://www.scmp.com/rss/318827/feed It's the stage that every parent dreads:hormones are raging, moods are swinging and bodies are changing. But it is also a time of idealism, increasing independence and preparing for the journey to adulthood. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Michaeleen Doucleff set out to examine her and her family’s relationship to – reliance on, really – screens and junk food. Why was she checking texts at every stop sign when biking with her daughter, Rosy? Why was she mindlessly devouring Pringles crisps? Why did Rosy impatiently count the minutes to nightly cartoons from the moment she got home? When was the last time they ate a whole food? At the beginning of her reckoning, Doucleff prepared herself for a lesson in willpower. If she was going... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350945/your-family-addicted-screens-and-junk-food-how-change-their-habits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350945/your-family-addicted-screens-and-junk-food-how-change-their-habits?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A single mother in China who has worked for 16 years carrying heavy bags of cement on construction sites to care for and fund her daughter’s education has moved countless people online. Wei Guiyun, 40, from Qidong County in Hengyang, Hunan province, central China, has gone viral online after sharing her story. In 2010, at the age of 24, she began the labouring job while raising two young children. At that time, her daughter was two and her son just a few months old. “With two children, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350137/china-single-mum-works-building-sites-lifting-bags-cement-16-years-support-child?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350137/china-single-mum-works-building-sites-lifting-bags-cement-16-years-support-child?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An online influencer in China known as Godmother of sexual intelligence, who was banned on social media earlier this year, has reappeared online to sell her controversial courses. Zhou Yuan, who lives in central Hunan province, teaches women to enhance their sexual appeal. She is alleged to have earned 24 million yuan (US$3.5 million) from selling her on and offline courses, Red Star News reported. Zhou’s account, with 200,000 followers, was banned in January for promoting “vulgar... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348820/china-sexual-intelligence-godmum-returns-paper-robots-ancestors-mum-goes-bald-tutoring-son?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348820/china-sexual-intelligence-godmum-returns-paper-robots-ancestors-mum-goes-bald-tutoring-son?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A six-year-old boy in central China was left alone in a hotel for more than two weeks, touching hotel workers who stepped in to care for him like family. According to Henan Television, the boy, nicknamed Chengcheng, checked into a hotel in Zhengzhou, Henan province, with his 25-year-old mother, surnamed Yue, in February. She initially went out at night and returned during the day, but stopped returning in March and left no contact information. For more than half a month, Chengcheng stayed alone... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348002/chinese-mum-leaves-son-6-hotel-room-more-2-weeks-staff-act-carers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348002/chinese-mum-leaves-son-6-hotel-room-more-2-weeks-staff-act-carers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese father who, after divorcing, confiscated more than 80,000 yuan (US$11,500) of his son’s Chinese New Year “red envelope” money to cover the expense of a new marriage ceremony, has lost a lawsuit that demanded he return the full amount. The boy, 10, who is known as Xiaohui, comes from Zhengzhou in Henan province, northern China, and has been living with his father since his parents divorced two years ago. Over the years, Xiaohui had accumulated more than 80,000 yuan in Chinese New Year... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344450/china-boy-sues-dad-taking-his-us11500-red-packet-money-cover-remarriage-expenses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344450/china-boy-sues-dad-taking-his-us11500-red-packet-money-cover-remarriage-expenses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Anna Lee*, a Hongkonger in her forties, first realised the profound impact of the violence she experienced as a child when she became a mother herself. As she raised her two children, now aged seven and 10, she was alarmed to find her emotional reactions mirroring the volatility of her own childhood. “I found the degree of my sudden outbursts of anger not proportionate to the things my children had done, and I struggle to manage the emotion,” she said. “That reminded me of my father losing his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343909/breaking-cycle-hong-kong-parents-wrestle-impact-their-own-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343909/breaking-cycle-hong-kong-parents-wrestle-impact-their-own-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A mother from eastern China who faced online criticism for making simple breakfasts has turned heads and gone viral with her bizarre breakfast creations. Clothing shop owner Zhang Liping from Zhejiang province lives with her husband and their 16-year-old son. Last December, Zhang casually posted videos on social media of her son’s breakfasts, including several pieces of dry bread, rice crackers and a cup of hot water. Netizens quickly pointed out the lack of nutrition this provided, with one... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343020/chinese-mother-prepares-thunder-breakfast-son-goes-viral-900-million-views?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343020/chinese-mother-prepares-thunder-breakfast-son-goes-viral-900-million-views?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:00:10 +0000 The Asian Parent The Asian Parent Can watching a film actually make you feel calmer, more optimistic and even more purposeful? Science says yes – and Spirited Away might be one of those films that do exactly that. A new study published in JMIR Serious Games, a peer-reviewed journal exploring how entertainment and interactive media affect well-being, revealed that certain forms of media, like Studio Ghibli films and video games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, can significantly boost happiness and life... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342888/want-feel-happier-watch-spirited-away-or-play-zelda-new-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342888/want-feel-happier-watch-spirited-away-or-play-zelda-new-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A new “parenting” trend in China is seeing young women embrace “painless motherhood” by raising cotton dolls as their own children. The toy-caring fad even extends to celebrating their “children’s” birthdays at hotpot restaurants, buying expensive clothes and even taking them on holidays. The trend gained attention in October 2023, when a woman took her cotton dolls to the popular hotpot chain Haidilao and made a viral post titled: “Is Haidilao Discriminating Against Cotton Doll Owners?”. In the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342361/china-gen-z-nurtures-stuffed-toys-real-babies-celebrates-birthdays-shows-affection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342361/china-gen-z-nurtures-stuffed-toys-real-babies-celebrates-birthdays-shows-affection?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A working Japanese couple with six children have sparked outrage by letting their oldest child, 12, babysit his younger siblings every day, leaving no time for himself. The boy’s story was exposed by the Japanese media outlet Asahi Broadcasting Television’s variety show Detective! Knight Scoop which aired on January 23. The programme features letters from the public and offers of help to solve their problems in life. A sixth-grade junior school pupil from Hiroshima Prefecture wrote to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3342329/japan-couple-spark-child-neglect-concerns-letting-son-12-babysit-5-siblings-while-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3342329/japan-couple-spark-child-neglect-concerns-letting-son-12-babysit-5-siblings-while-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An angry father in China smashed up his home and kicked the door of his daughter’s room because she used tissues and not a towel to dry her hair. The father’s behaviour was exposed online by his wife on January 26, sparking public outrage after images of his emotional explosion were viewed 110 million times on one social media platform alone, the Beijing TV reported. According to the mother, who lives in Guangdong province, southern China, after her daughter washed her hair, the father spotted... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341545/clip-china-dads-fit-rage-over-daughter-drying-hair-tissues-gains-110-million-views?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341545/clip-china-dads-fit-rage-over-daughter-drying-hair-tissues-gains-110-million-views?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:00:38 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Some parents in China are embracing a new way to motivate their children by printing giant homework papers, sparking laughter across the internet. In January, a mother from Hubei province, central China, said that she printed oversized test papers for her son, saying: “This way, he will not miss any questions.” Photographs showed her young son lying on the floor, working on a Chinese language test paper nearly one metre long, with blank spaces almost as big as his hand. The mother said she had... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341426/china-parents-use-giant-homework-papers-motivate-kids-divide-public-opinion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341426/china-parents-use-giant-homework-papers-motivate-kids-divide-public-opinion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:01:45 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese couple who left their young children at a hotel following a fight have ignited a heated discussion over how to punish irresponsible parents. The Beijing Chaoyang district police posted on January 22 that they received a phone call from a man who claimed to have been looking after his friends’ two children at a hotel. The children, a seven-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, had been abandoned by their parents after the couple had a fight during a family trip to Beijing. Both parents... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341386/china-couple-abandon-their-young-children-hotel-after-dispute-spark-heated-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341386/china-couple-abandon-their-young-children-hotel-after-dispute-spark-heated-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Shanghai mother who forced her daughter to walk on her knees on a cold night has been accused of abusive parenting. The unidentified woman meted out the punishment in their residential compound at 9pm on January 6. Passers-by who tried to intervene were berated by the mother. A witness, surnamed Xu, said the girl stood up when she reached the compound’s entrance gate. Xu said the mother complained that her family was heavily in debt after buying a flat to provide a better education for her... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339995/china-mum-makes-daughter-crawl-knees-during-cold-night-berates-passers-when-intervened?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339995/china-mum-makes-daughter-crawl-knees-during-cold-night-berates-passers-when-intervened?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words One of your recent articles relates Singaporean parents’ concerns about their children’s social media use (“Singapore parents welcome curbs on smartphone use in schools: ‘better late than never’”, December 5). Many Hong Kong parents are similarly worried that their children are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338485/scolding-not-right-way-curb-childrens-social-media-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338485/scolding-not-right-way-curb-childrens-social-media-use?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa It’s midnight on an ordinary Thursday and Darren Lee is wide awake, hunched over a laptop, sending off emails. While most other university students might be winding down after a day of lectures or grabbing drinks with friends, Lee’s nightly routine has just begun. Sure, his grades are slipping, his mother is less than thrilled about all the socks taking over their living room, and his social life is bleak at best. But at only 19 years old, Lee is the proud founder and CEO of Sababu, a home-grown... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3338459/hong-kong-teen-trading-sleep-and-social-life-help-artists-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3338459/hong-kong-teen-trading-sleep-and-social-life-help-artists-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Snapchat has begun asking teenage Australians to verify their ages, the company said on Monday, just weeks before Canberra enforces sweeping laws banning under-16s from social media. From December 10, Australia will force social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to remove users under the age of 16 or face hefty fines. “Starting this week, many users will be asked to verify their age to continue accessing Snapchat,” the company said. Users will be able to do so using an... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3333875/snapchat-makes-australian-teens-verify-age-social-media-ban-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3333875/snapchat-makes-australian-teens-verify-age-social-media-ban-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:37:43 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan On a summer afternoon nine years ago, Mark Raymond Jr dove into Lake Pontchartrain in the US state of Louisiana. He had not realised how shallow it was – and felt his forehead hit the lake bottom. Three weeks later, he woke up from a medically induced coma, unable to use his legs or hands. Diving accidents are life-shattering – but not uncommon. They disproportionately affect young men: up to 97 per cent of diving-induced spinal cord injuries occur in males, and most are aged 15 to 29... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3333477/why-males-take-more-risks-and-how-promote-healthy-risk-taking-teens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3333477/why-males-take-more-risks-and-how-promote-healthy-risk-taking-teens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An emotional message scribbled on a paper trash bag left on a high-speed train by a mother, expressing her frustration over her teenage child’s addiction to electronic devices, has sparked widespread discussion about parenting on mainland social media. The message resonated with a young passenger days later. This “message in a bottle” was written by a passenger from Ningbo, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on October 29. The trash bag, containing the handwritten note, went unnoticed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3333160/china-mums-paper-bag-message-help-childs-phone-addiction-prompts-flood-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3333160/china-mums-paper-bag-message-help-childs-phone-addiction-prompts-flood-support?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A father in China quit his job and travelled 900 km to set up a food stall near his daughter’s school after she complained that the dishes in its canteen lacked the “taste of home”. The concerned father has trended on mainland social media as a result of his actions. His daughter, Li Bingdi, is a second-year student at Jilin Normal University in Siping, Jilin province, northeastern China. Over the past year, Li has complained that she did not like the food at her school, which she said was... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3331744/china-dad-quits-job-sell-fried-rice-near-daughters-school-after-she-complains-about-food?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3331744/china-dad-quits-job-sell-fried-rice-near-daughters-school-after-she-complains-about-food?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson The online world has opened a floodgate of sexual content for young people, often leaving their parents seeking relevant ways to talk about consent, boundaries and healthy relationships. For many, the first sign of trouble happens in their children’s bedrooms: walking in on them watching pornography, overhearing crude conversations with friends or noticing a sudden change in their attitude and behaviour. Relationship counsellor and certified clinical sexologist Dr Martha Tara Lee, based in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331580/how-talk-children-and-teens-affected-early-exposure-sexual-content?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331580/how-talk-children-and-teens-affected-early-exposure-sexual-content?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam After Amanda Fok Choi-ling was told, at the age of 35, she had ADHD, the first doctor she saw about her condition was a child psychiatrist. “When I was diagnosed in 2008, there were no support systems for adults with ADHD,” the Hongkonger recalls. A professional emcee, Fok founded Let’s Talk ADHD, a social enterprise that raises awareness of the disorder and starts conversations to spread the word that it affects children and adults alike. She launched Hong Kong’s first ADHD Awareness Week in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329889/fighting-adhd-awareness-hong-kong-uphill-battle-social-enterprise-founder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329889/fighting-adhd-awareness-hong-kong-uphill-battle-social-enterprise-founder?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A major Chinese second-hand platform has sparked online controversy after allegedly requiring a mother to submit an uninterrupted five-minute video of herself slapping her child as a condition for processing a refund. The case drew public attention when Li Yun, the mother of an unidentified 11-year-old girl, tried to get a refund after discovering that her daughter had secretly spent over 500 yuan (US$70) on trading cards on the Qiandao app. Qiandao is widely regarded as China’s leading platform... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3329779/china-toy-platform-refund-policy-requires-parents-scold-slap-child-unapproved-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3329779/china-toy-platform-refund-policy-requires-parents-scold-slap-child-unapproved-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:00:08 +0000 Sam Evans Sam Evans Feet pad on the mat as two Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors cautiously approach each other at the beginning of a face-off. The pair’s cotton gi robes rub together as they become embroiled in a grapple. There is a thud as one gets the upper hand, rolling their opponent to the ground. These sights and sounds became familiar to veterinarian Anthony Hollis over months of watching his sons’ classes at Espada Studio in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan neighbourhood. About five years ago, Hollis decided to go... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329788/how-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-benefits-body-and-mind-and-martial-arts-rise-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329788/how-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-benefits-body-and-mind-and-martial-arts-rise-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A video of parents from eastern China celebrating their son’s exam results after he got just one point above a pass has gone viral online. Unlike the typical Chinese “tiger parenting” style, the father prioritised his child’s health and happiness over perfection. The clip shows a mother entering a house with three children, holding an exam paper and smiling broadly. She excitedly tells her husband, who is lying on the couch: “Our son scored 61 out of 100; he passed the monthly maths exam.” The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3329079/clip-china-parents-celebrating-son-passing-exam-goes-viral-dad-values-boys-happiness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3329079/clip-china-parents-celebrating-son-passing-exam-goes-viral-dad-values-boys-happiness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Teenagers on Instagram will be restricted to seeing PG-13 content by default and won’t be able to change their settings without a parent’s permission, Meta announced on Tuesday. This means kids using teen-specific accounts will see photos and videos on Instagram that are similar to what they would see in a PG-13 movie – no sex, drugs or dangerous stunts, among others. “This includes hiding or not recommending posts with strong language, certain risky stunts, and additional content that could... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3329006/meta-adopts-film-industry-pg-13-standard-instagram-amid-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3329006/meta-adopts-film-industry-pg-13-standard-instagram-amid-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:31:59 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A shockingly bizarre so-called guilt education activity has played out in China during which parents knelt down to form a “bridge” while students stepped on their backs. A video of the strange activity, during which some of the students are blindfolded, was filmed in Henan province, central China. The clip has gone viral and stirred controversy online. Emotional music played as a host encouraged the students, saying: “Go ahead.” The activity is part of the school’s “guilt education”, which aims... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3328363/guilt-exercise-china-school-criticised-after-students-cross-human-bridge-formed-parents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3328363/guilt-exercise-china-school-criticised-after-students-cross-human-bridge-formed-parents?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 01:00:08 +0000 dpa dpa In today’s fast-paced world, junk food is more accessible and enticing than ever, which has led to increased efforts to reduce the promotion of unhealthy food and drink. While the occasional treat is part of a balanced life, children can sometimes display subtle signs of a deeper, more problematic relationship with unhealthy foods. Recognising the warning signs early is the first step towards helping your child build a healthier, more balanced diet. Here are some red flags that may indicate a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3327791/signs-your-child-addicted-junk-food-and-8-ways-help-them-kick-habit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3327791/signs-your-child-addicted-junk-food-and-8-ways-help-them-kick-habit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng Getting your child into an elite school or university is more competitive than ever. Good grades, meticulously curated extracurricular profiles and outstanding personal essays are just the start of a strong application. It can be difficult to know what else is required, particularly if your child is set on studying overseas. For parents who find the ins and outs of the admissions process daunting, seeking the professional help of a consultant may be the best course of action. More than just... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3327718/how-consultants-are-helping-parents-navigate-path-elite-school-admissions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3327718/how-consultants-are-helping-parents-navigate-path-elite-school-admissions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 word Even Nobel laureates stumble. Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson, winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize in economics, argue that nations with extractive and non-inclusive institutions – where elites monopolise power – are doomed to stagnation. Democracies, by contrast,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3325741/chinas-rise-not-anomaly-be-dismissed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3325741/chinas-rise-not-anomaly-be-dismissed?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu An 11-year-old Chinese boy who earned 4,000 yuan (US$550) a month selling milk tea at the night market during the summer holidays has been praised for his “business sense”. Nicknamed Nuomi, the boy is a Primary Five student in central China’s Hunan province. His mother, surnamed Li, said she let him work as a street vendor to reward him for coming first in class during last term’s final exam. He got 100 points in English and mathematics and 98 in the Chinese exam. Li said Nuomi had shown a keen... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3322502/chinese-boy-earns-us550-month-selling-milk-tea-fun-mum-praises-business-acumen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3322502/chinese-boy-earns-us550-month-selling-milk-tea-fun-mum-praises-business-acumen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 08:00:08 +0000 The Asian Parent The Asian Parent When a cheeseburger costs less than a box of strawberries, it is no surprise that teenagers are reaching more for fast food than fresh fruit. But a new study led by the University of South Australia warns that it is not just diet causing concern. Teens are increasingly caught in a cycle of unhealthy lifestyle habits that could have long-term effects on their health. The study, which analysed data from more than 293,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 across 73 countries and five World Health... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3323278/new-study-finds-alarming-trends-teen-health-exercise-diet-and-screen-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3323278/new-study-finds-alarming-trends-teen-health-exercise-diet-and-screen-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A man in southern China who took his 10-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son on an 800km walk to toughen them up has been praised on social media. The father, surnamed Wu, and his two children started their month-long trek from the Baoan District in Shenzhen, southern China, on July 17 and ended it on August 17 in Changsha in the country’s central Hunan province, according to a report in Jimu News. “I had not expected they would carry it through to the end. I feel relieved and proud of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3322623/proud-chinese-dad-walks-800km-31-days-his-young-children-toughen-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3322623/proud-chinese-dad-walks-800km-31-days-his-young-children-toughen-them?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A father in China has sparked controversy for abandoning his young son on a busy highway as punishment for hitting his older brother during a quarrel. The man came under the spotlight after a motorcycle travel influencer posted a video of the abandoned youngster, who is thought to be seven or eight years old, online. It showed a young boy standing alone on the side of No. 219 National Highway in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of northwest China. The stranded boy even tried to hail a lift, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3322490/china-boy-left-highway-dad-after-fight-brother-car-mum-walks-15km-find-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3322490/china-boy-left-highway-dad-after-fight-brother-car-mum-walks-15km-find-him?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:00:09 +0000 dpa dpa Children who vape are more likely to go on to be smokers, be diagnosed with asthma and have poor mental health, new analysis suggests. The largest global review on vaping in young people found “consistent evidence” that children who vape are three times more likely to go on to become smokers. The study also pointed to links between vaping and increased odds of respiratory illness and substance abuse, including drinking and marijuana use. Experts from the University of York and the London School... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3322586/children-who-vape-are-3-times-more-likely-become-smokers-new-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3322586/children-who-vape-are-3-times-more-likely-become-smokers-new-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Ruth Benny Ruth Benny Navigating the maze of schools in Hong Kong’s competitive education scene is no small feat. As an education consultant with more than 13 years’ experience steering families through this high-stakes journey, as well as many years of being a teacher before that, I’ve seen the process spark everything from blind hope to sheer panic. Yet, the secret to finding the perfect school is deceptively simple: it all hinges on a conversation: real, human interactions that provide a window into a school’s... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3321839/school-admissions-expert-ruth-benny-says-choosing-school-best-done-face-face?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3321839/school-admissions-expert-ruth-benny-says-choosing-school-best-done-face-face?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:21:27 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysian parents have welcomed a plan to bar children from having social media accounts, but are less enthused by a proposal to push state-sanctioned family content to curb consumption of damaging online material. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil on Tuesday warned parents against an overreliance on mobile devices serving as “digital nannies” to keep their children occupied, saying he had personally come across children who had their own TikTok accounts despite being below the minimum age... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3320183/malaysian-parents-back-social-media-curbs-children-limit-brain-rot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3320183/malaysian-parents-back-social-media-curbs-children-limit-brain-rot?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 02:00:11 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer If you’re a parent in 2025, you’ll have had a hard time avoiding the term “gentle parenting”. Whether it’s showing up on your social media feed or being demonstrated at play dates, gentle parenthood seems to be the hot topic in parenting circles this year. But what exactly is it? What principles does it stem from? And most importantly, does it work? All families are different, from their multiple personalities and varied family structures, to the different needs and schedules of parents and... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3319937/experts-hong-kong-discuss-why-gentle-parenting-trending-and-why-it-may-be-useful-local-families?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3319937/experts-hong-kong-discuss-why-gentle-parenting-trending-and-why-it-may-be-useful-local-families?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:48:11 +0000 Gayatri Bhaumik Gayatri Bhaumik Deciding on an educational path can be confusing for parents, with myriad considerations making choosing schools seem an insurmountable task. Which education system or curriculum is best? Would a public, private or international institution be most appropriate? And what about day schools versus boarding schools? Then, further complicating the issue, is the choice between coed and single-sex schools. In Hong Kong, single-sex schools were established in the late 19th century, mostly by missionary... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3317390/how-choose-between-single-sex-vs-coed-schools-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3317390/how-choose-between-single-sex-vs-coed-schools-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Some Hong Kong teenagers using the illegal drug “space oil” were found to suffer from a possibly fatal condition in which levels of certain important hormones were drastically reduced, according to a study. Doctors involved in the research also found that the impact on young people’s health could persist even if they stopped using the drug but were still exposed to it while hanging out with other users. The findings were contained in a case report on the narcotic’s health impact on three boys,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3317082/space-oil-linked-possible-fatal-condition-among-hong-kong-teen-users-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3317082/space-oil-linked-possible-fatal-condition-among-hong-kong-teen-users-study?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:40:23 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Doomscrolling. Instagram obsessions. Mindless YouTube video viewing. Distracting behaviours, yes. But can they actually rot a person’s brain? In 2024, Oxford University Press named “brain rot” as its word of the year, defining it as the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state” caused by overconsuming “trivial or unchallenging” material found on social media and other online platforms. “It’s what happens when you consume too much low-quality online content, which is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3314890/does-too-much-tiktok-youtube-or-instagram-actually-rot-your-brain-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3314890/does-too-much-tiktok-youtube-or-instagram-actually-rot-your-brain-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan A friend once remarked, in the aftermath of her husband’s death: “I wish the people who offered to go on a walk with me would.” Perhaps they failed to come good on those offers because they worried they would not know what to say. They need not have worried. Had they joined her in a walk, they would have both enjoyed the health benefits that flow from being active – and may have found that conversation flowed easily, too. A simple way to get closer to someone, or to a group of people, is to go... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3314264/how-get-closer-someone-friend-partner-or-family-member-take-walk-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3314264/how-get-closer-someone-friend-partner-or-family-member-take-walk-them?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jun 2025 03:15:08 +0000 Amalissa Hall Amalissa Hall Social media is pervasive in the lives of adults and adolescents alike: beyond simply being communication and image-sharing platforms, the likes of Instagram, YouTube and Facebook have become sources of news, information and entertainment, and are so integrated into daily life that they can be hard to disengage from. A US-based study from 2016 revealed how the addictive use of social media platforms and video games correlated with mental health disorders, and technology since has only further... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3313328/tackling-social-medias-impact-teens-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3313328/tackling-social-medias-impact-teens-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu People on social media have been left heartbroken over a 12-year-old boy who ran away from home to escape his father’s discipline, and only heard about the latter’s sudden death when he was found by the police. The boy, surnamed Wang, from eastern China’s Jiangxi province, ran away from home on May 20 after his father scolded and beat him for playing with his phone too much. Two days later, his father, a delivery driver, was hit by a car while on the job. According to a witness, Wang senior was... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3311960/chinese-boy-runs-away-after-family-row-learns-dads-fatal-car-crash-2-days-later?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3311960/chinese-boy-runs-away-after-family-row-learns-dads-fatal-car-crash-2-days-later?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung For Hayden Yung Hok-yat, a 15-year-old Hongkonger living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), going out in a wheelchair is like tackling an obstacle course. Wherever he goes, from bustling shopping centres and restaurants to serene country parks, he must make sure there is a functional accessible toilet that is unlocked – some are closed off to prevent misuse by those without physical disabilities. The city’s transport systems are largely accessible, but a smooth journey depends on an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312559/it-wont-stop-me-hong-kong-teen-battles-condition-live-ordinary-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312559/it-wont-stop-me-hong-kong-teen-battles-condition-live-ordinary-days?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 04:00:24 +0000 Amanda Sheppard Amanda Sheppard Hong Kong’s reputation as a city of high-achieving students continues to be well deserved, with the results of the 2023/24 Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award released in a ceremony held earlier this year, on January 11. Organised by the Youth Arch Foundation and supported by the Lion & Globe Education Trust, the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award was established in 1985. To date, it has celebrated the academic prowess, involvement in extracurricular activities, and achievements in community... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3311490/celebrating-stellar-achievements-hong-kongs-outstanding-secondary-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3311490/celebrating-stellar-achievements-hong-kongs-outstanding-secondary-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 May 2025 22:00:15 +0000 dpa dpa Almost half a billion teenagers around the world will be overweight or obese by 2030, experts predicted, as they warned that adolescent health was at a “tipping point”. In a major new review of the health and well-being of adolescents, experts said some main drivers of ill-health among teenagers have switched from cigarettes and alcohol to weight gain and mental health problems. They warned that mental health among teenagers had seen a “significant decline” over the past three decades, which was... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3311248/teen-health-tipping-point-464-million-youth-risk-obesity-2030-report-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3311248/teen-health-tipping-point-464-million-youth-risk-obesity-2030-report-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 11:19:07 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson By the time her younger son Dan was 16, the online world had already transformed the landscape of the average teenager, both inside and out, Fiona Spargo-Mabbs says. “It meant Dan and his friends – without me knowing about anything other than the party nearby he’d asked permission to go to – could message one another online to meet, find their way to an illegal rave that had been organised through social media, and on the way there take a drug I’d never heard of, which was easily available by... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3310483/how-social-media-can-be-terrible-teens-and-people-fighting-back-bans-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3310483/how-social-media-can-be-terrible-teens-and-people-fighting-back-bans-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 23:45:08 +0000 John Cremer John Cremer The wonders of space exploration have always held a special thrill, and for some fortunate Hong Kong youngsters the chance to learn up-close about the science and operations behind a successful mission is no longer an improbable dream. Thanks to a number of exciting initiatives, it is now possible to sign up for “astronaut training”, an eye-opening and character-building experience for every person who takes part. The key elements typically include sessions to explain the principles of space... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3309586/stars-junior-astronaut-training-programmes-spark-interest-space-young-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3309586/stars-junior-astronaut-training-programmes-spark-interest-space-young-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 May 2025 22:00:46 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Young parents in China are relaxing at home while their children take care of the housework after school, as the trend of “reverse parenting” goes viral. Yuanyuan, a primary school student from northeastern China’s Liaoning province, has attracted nearly one million followers on mainland social media by documenting his daily life with a mini camera clipped to his clothes. Two to three times a week, Yuanyuan gets up at 5am to walk his neighbours’ dogs for five yuan (70 US cents) each. After... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3308555/reverse-parenting-allows-parents-relax-while-children-handle-housework-after-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3308555/reverse-parenting-allows-parents-relax-while-children-handle-housework-after-school?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 01:00:08 +0000