A Hobby? What's That?

I have spoken before in this blog of my concern about the Chinese education process and what it turns out. However, I was struck at the weekend by quite how deprived Chinese children are of out of school activities/leisure interests (beyond homework clubs and music lessons).

One of my Chinese friends was describing how her teenage straight-A student son cried last week during an interview for an overseas private school. The questions that made him cry?

- What was your favourite toy/why was it your favourite?
- What are your hobbies?

He was unable to answer either question as he did not really remember playing with toys when he was growing up as he spent all of his free time studying. Similarly, he had no time (or encouragement) to take up a hobby and was actually unsure what a hobby was!

This second point is probably more telling of the rapid change in society that has occurred here in China. Most Chinese parents today grew up at a time when their were no leisure opportunities or facilities. And as most hobbies in the West often seem to pass from parent to child, this might explain the gap in this child's education/upbringing.

The lack of parent/child interaction caused by excessive competition for the child's attention (4 grandparents and an Ayi/nanny) further reduces the opportunity for parental bonding/sharing of any common interests.

The end result is kids with some "missing pieces" that may not be completed until adulthood, if ever. This could help explain my post last Sepetember (Warwick or Wuxi) where I highlighted that Chinese kids in overseas education tend to stick together...they sadly may have nothing in common with anyone else.

My youngest son, Daniel, enjoying MY childhood hobby for the first time.
Shanghai, March 2011.