Video of Chinese toddler sobbing in snow sparks outrage over parenting

• LiqwedHitman wrote on 2012-02-10 08:46

  Beijing (CNN) -- A video of a toddler crying while running in the snow nearly naked has sparked a firestorm in China, but the boy's father says the exercise was meant to strengthen his son.
  "It's tough for me, too, when he cried out for my comfort," father He Liesheng said. "But I believe in 'no pain, no gain.' Like an eagle, I push my child to the limit so he can learn how to fly."
  The father shot and posted the online video clip showing his 4-year-old son running down a snow-covered street, wearing only shoes and underpants.
  In the footage, the boy -- nicknamed Duoduo -- chases his father, sobs and begs to be picked up.
  "Daddy, Daddy please hold me," Duoduo cries in the video, which was filmed while the family was in Flushing, New York on vacation.
  The father, who lives in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, said he calls himself "Eagle Dad" for his tough parenting skills.
  He told CNN in a phone interview that the snow run is part of a training regimen of intensive physical and mental activities designed to strengthen his son, who was born premature and has suffered from health problems.
  "I consulted my doctor friends to ensure what we do is scientific and that it won't harm my son's body," he said.
  The video has been viewed by tens of thousands of people online. In China, it has reignited debate about how far parents should push their children to attain success.
  Chinese parenting techniques have come under scrutiny after author Amy Chua's book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," sparked heated discussion worldwide about the benefits of tough parenting.
  "Some compare me to the 'Tiger Mom,' but we are different," He told CNN. "Unlike her, I always respect my son's will."
  He said he plans to publish a book on his "eagle-style" training soon.
  But his parenting method might have trouble finding followers.
  On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, many users said the approach was tantamount to child abuse.
  "I can't agree with this educational style," a user going by the name of Dangpoluobaoyushangfengweibao posted. "It's so cruel."
  Others suggested government officials should step in.
  "Why don't we have a law against this abnormal behavior?" a user going by the name of Xinhongbaobei wrote. "Before long, there will be all sorts of lion dads and snake moms who feel justified abusing their children."
  The boy's father told CNN he doesn't care about the criticism.
  "I've always felt Chinese parents spoil their only child too much," he said. "We don't expose them to nature enough and they get weaker and less competitive compared to foreign children."
  In the video, both parents can be heard off camera instructing Duoduo to lie down in the snow.
  He said he and his wife always ensure their son is happy, and that Duoduo's health has improved because of his unique training regimen.
  "My wife strongly opposed my idea in the beginning, but I kept persuading her about the benefits of my method," He said. "She told me she's beyond caring now."

  
  
  http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/09/world/asia/china-parenting-video/index.html?iref=allsearch
  
  [video=youtube;-Uo4WBNd6RU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uo4WBNd6RU[/video]
  
  ...:srsly?:
• cupid wrote on 2012-02-10 08:56
  What is this bad parenting I don't even...
• Lan wrote on 2012-02-10 08:56
  Apparently he was born as a weak kid, so his father is putting him through a crazy routine which has worked and he is no whealthy and has not needed to revisit the hospital o.o Also his father alleges he has a genius IQ.
  
  (Also apparently a short run in the cold is good for your body...not sure about 4 year olds though)
• Skye wrote on 2012-02-10 09:03
  Reminds me of that crazy Mormon woman who punished her kid by making him stand in a freezing shower and have him hold hot sauce in his mouth.
• Kollin wrote on 2012-02-10 09:05
  They ensure their son's happiness? Doesn't look like it. Looks pretty upset to me, crying and freezing in the snow while being half naked. I am all for pushing your child to be successful, but this is stupid.
• Piero wrote on 2012-02-10 09:05

  Quote from Skye;769985:

  Reminds me of that crazy Mormon woman who punished her kid by making him stand in a freezing shower and have him hold hot sauce in his mouth.

  
  
  That lady is crazy. Bad words ran throughout my mind as I watched the video.
  And that's really dangerous, if he had taken it any further his child would've suffered from hypothermia and frostbite.
• Mentosftw wrote on 2012-02-10 09:10

  Dangpoluobaoyushangfengweibao

  
  
  Epic username.
• Blassreiter wrote on 2012-02-10 09:11
  I understand what they're trying to do. I'd support their [the parents] actions but I would also tell them to do something less risky. I do believe in toughening up kids like this but then he's 4, that means he has a weaker immune system which mean that he will be susceptible to the cold or flu. I say the parents should have made him do this "rigorous training" some other way instead of this which may induce cold or pneumonia and especially since the kid is young he may die from the sickness if he contracts it. Why don't they make him do push ups in the hot summer? That way there isn't a risk of getting a cold. Also I find it ridiculous that they had to record him and then post it on the internet.
  
  If they are to do this training they should have did it one by one. I agree with their ideology of being an "Eagle Dad" but then humans, especially children, are very feeble to the environment especially if it's sudden. I'd tell them that if they are to do this cold training they should have made him wear lesser clothing (a sweater at least) and remove a piece of clothing each week(or month) if they're doing it daily. That way the kid's body will learn slowly to adapt to cold. If you just throw him into the freezer right away he'll freeze. They probably got this idea from ancient martial arts like the Iron Skin. I believe in martial arts training but they did it too sudden. As I have said they should have started out with him wearing clothing and slowly wearing less clothing each time until he gets used to the cold.
  
  tl;dr
  
  Shouldn't have recorded and posted on internet. Should have did the training slowly with him WEARING CLOTHING IN ORDER TO GET ACCUSTOMED TO THE COLD INSTEAD OF UNDERWEAR.
  
  P.S. I find it more infuriating than this that parents in America are feeding their kids McDonalds.
  
  *inb4 someone says "F****** chinese commie b******* should die." or something pertaining to Asians.
  
  
  

  F****** insane country USA is - I hope this gook-family gets their kids taken away from them ! ! !

  
  
  Too late...
• Strawberry wrote on 2012-02-10 09:14
  I can understand he wants to be considering his child's health here and all, but I don't get why it has to be done like this...Why not just let him grow physically stronger from walks or actual runs? They're really pushing it when they're not thinking of the risks involved in their actions.
  
  

  The boy's father told CNN he doesn't care about the criticism.
  "I've always felt Chinese parents spoil their only child too much," he said. "We don't expose them to nature enough and they get weaker and less competitive compared to foreign children."

  
  
  Not exposing them to enough, and less competitive? Why would you compare your child to another child? It's like indirectly saying they're not as good as other people's children.
  
  High expectations and all, okay. But their child isn't always going to live the way their parents tell them to exactly. Not everyone is going to be like study study study when he grows up, hopefully.
• Mentosftw wrote on 2012-02-10 09:14
  Man, the comments on youtube are pretty funny. The more controversial the content is, the more degrading the grammar and spelling gets.
• Kollin wrote on 2012-02-10 09:18
  There are methods that are just as effective, if not more so, than this that are not this extreme. If anything, this would be detrimental to the child's health, being exposed to the cold like this at such a young age.
• Blassreiter wrote on 2012-02-10 09:19

  "We don't expose them to nature enough and they get weaker and less competitive compared to foreign children."

  
  
  I hope he didn't include American children.
• Chinaboy475 wrote on 2012-02-10 10:08

  Quote from Blassreiter;770002:

  I hope he didn't include American children.

  
  
  He probably did :/
• Taycat wrote on 2012-02-10 14:41
  What's worse is that the parents were laughing at him too.
• Cynic wrote on 2012-02-10 14:46

  Quote from Kollin;770000:

  There are methods that are just as effective, if not more so, than this that are not this extreme. If anything, this would be detrimental to the child's health, being exposed to the cold like this at such a young age.

  
  
  ^
  
  You're just using your kid as a scapegoat for your own personal beliefs if you force your kid to endure this kind of abuse. There's nothing wrong with wanting a strong, healthy child, but there is no reason to make your kid suffer like this because you're an idiot who assumes tossing them near-naked into the snow will do the trick.
  
  They either need to get a reality check, or involve child services. What's so pitiful about this abuse is the parents don't seem to recognize they're doing anything wrong.