A novel way of bringing up children, known as “reversed parenting”, has become popular among millennial Chinese parents.
The trend sees mothers and fathers mimic the behaviour of their children to promote more equal conversations.
It stems from a viral incident in November 2022, when a mother in Heilongjiang province, northeastern China, allowed her daughter to experience the harsh winter cold first-hand.
In freezing temperatures, the woman’s three-year-old insisted on going outside in a thin...
Analysis & Context
A novel way of bringing up children, known as “reversed parenting”, has become popular among millennial Chinese parents.
The trend sees mothers and fathers mimic the behaviour of their children to promote more equal conversations.
It stems from a viral incident in November 2022, when a mother in Heilongjiang province, northeastern China, allowed her daughter to experience the harsh winter cold first-hand.
In freezing temperatures, the woman’s three-year-old insisted on going outside in a thin... This article provides comprehensive coverage and analysis of current events.
A novel way of bringing up children, known as “reversed parenting”, has become popular among millennial Chinese parents.
The trend sees mothers and fathers mimic the behaviour of their children to promote more equal conversations.
It stems from a viral incident in November 2022, when a mother in Heilongjiang province, northeastern China, allowed her daughter to experience the harsh winter cold first-hand.
In freezing temperatures, the woman’s three-year-old insisted on going outside in a thin...
AdvertisementTrending in ChinaPeople & CultureTrending in China‘Reversed parenting’: China couples imitate their kids, throw tantrums to promote equal talkMillennial parents turn to role reversal and facing the consequences methods to instil sense of self-responsibility in their childrenReading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPYating Yangin BeijingPublished: 4:00pm, 19 Feb 2026A novel way of bringing up children, known as “reversed parenting”, has become popular among millennial Chinese parents.The trend sees mothers and fathers mimic the behaviour of their children to promote more equal conversations.It stems from a viral incident in November 2022, when a mother in Heilongjiang province, northeastern China, allowed her daughter to experience the harsh winter cold first-hand.AdvertisementIn freezing temperatures, the woman’s three-year-old insisted on going outside in a thin princess dress, confidently claiming that princesses in cartoons live in cold places.Rather than forcing her to wear a coat, the mother let her go and quietly followed behind.AdvertisementMany netizens praised her approach, saying that letting a child experience something once is more effective than preaching a hundred times.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x
