White-collar workers from the post-80s generation stylishly study for parenting licenses to learn professional common-sense about child rearing

by iface002 on 2011-04-27 16:58:34

Nowadays, the craze for plastic surgery videos, professional licenses, and qualification exams is prevalent. Drivers need a driver's license, doctors require a medical practice license, and teachers must have a teaching certificate... even parents can now obtain a "parenting license." In Meizhou, Guangdong, a quiet trend of taking the "parenting license" exam is spreading, with most enthusiasts being white-collar workers from the "post-80s" generation.

Xinhua News Agency, Meizhou, May 16th - Title: Meizhou's "Post-80s" White-Collar Workers Fashionably Take the "Parenting License"

Authors: Tang Linzhen and Yang Caoyuan

Relevant experts have expressed that young parents are eager to learn professional, scientific child-rearing knowledge, and their enthusiasm for obtaining the "parenting license" is a good phenomenon. It shows their high level of attention to the healthy growth of the next generation. However, appropriately accepting the experience of the previous generation and combining it with the scientific child-rearing methods of professional teachers is also a good approach.

Ms. Zhu, aged 25, works at a securities company in Meizhou, Guangdong, and has a son who is almost one year old. To acquire more scientific and professional child-rearing knowledge, Ms. Zhu has been regularly attending prenatal and early education training since she was pregnant and has already filled two large notebooks with her notes. "In terms of child-rearing, I feel that the experiences of the older generation are no longer applicable due to the differences in times, and I myself lack relevant experience. Since attending the training sessions, I've gained valuable insights from professional teachers and engaged in deep exchanges with my own parents. Now, when it comes to teaching children, I don't feel as anxious as other young parents do, and I find it quite manageable," Ms. Zhu said. "Actually, my enthusiasm for training isn't about getting that so-called 'license,' but rather acquiring some practical knowledge."

The majority of white-collar workers from the "post-80s" generation are only children, with higher levels of education and income. They are generous in investing in the next generation but lack relevant scientific child-rearing and educational experience. They also don't fully recognize the traditional educational experiences of the previous generation. The training provided by early education institutions perfectly meets their needs, thus giving rise to the urban "parenting license."

Ms. Qiu, another white-collar worker from the "post-80s" generation, is also a fan of child-rearing training programs. No matter how busy she is, whenever there's a training session on child-rearing knowledge organized by an institution, she finds a way to attend. Recently, she learned online that a well-known early education institution in China was hosting an early education training session in Guangzhou. Without hesitation, she drove over 300 kilometers with two other "post-80s" white-collar mothers to attend the training and successfully obtained the "parenting license" from this renowned early education institution. "This license cost over 2000 yuan, which is a bit expensive, but for the sake of our children, it's still worth it, after all, knowledge is priceless," Ms. Qiu said.

The "parenting license" is proposed by some early education institutions. Parents go through training courses provided by these institutions, which generally include pre-pregnancy and pregnancy knowledge, infant and toddler growth and development rules, and how parents can effectively communicate with their children. After the course, the early education institution will test the parents on related topics, and those who pass will receive the "parenting license."