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.
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After school, he calls his mother to ask what she wants for dinner, then shops for fresh groceries, bargaining with vendors and paying in cash.
At home, Yuanyuan cooks meals like braised prawns and pork ribs, usually serving two meat dishes and a vegetable.
Once dinner is ready, he calls his mother, who is often watching TV, to come to eat.
His mum says she feels reassured knowing he can juggle school and housework on his own.
She often praises his cooking, which he says he learned from online videos.
Yuanyuan also helps with his mum’s make-up and selects her outfits, complimenting her and cheering her up when she is feeling low.
Netizens see Yuanyuan as a prime example of “reverse parenting,” a growing trend in which children take the lead as their parents put their feet up.
Many parents also imitate their children’s laid-back habits, spending time on their mobile phones and watching TV while leaving daily responsibilities to the kids.
In February, a video of a four-year-old boy scolding his parents for being lazy went viral, earning nearly 1.4 million likes.
In the clip, the parents are seen lying in bed all afternoon as the boy stands at the door, angrily pointing out a dusty toilet lid and messy bookshelf.
“I had to clean everything and even sweep the floor,” he says, adding: “You two are not doing anything. I cannot take it any more!”
The mother responds that they rely on him because he is so capable, to which the boy snaps back: “Might as well work me to death.”
One netizen said: “In this family, the kid is the responsible parent, and the parents are the ones acting like children.”
Another mother, known online as Nini, said that her seven-year-old daughter handles all their family travel plans, from booking flights to organising daily itineraries.
Nini said it all started after a trip to Hong Kong last year, when she mixed up the return flight time and the family ended up stranded at the airport overnight.
“Since then, my daughter does not trust adults with travel plans,” she said, adding that her daughter now uses social media platforms to research destinations herself.
Experts say so-called reverse parenting challenges parental authority and helps kids build independence.
“Parents showing a bit of ‘weakness’ can inspire kids to take more responsibility and be more proactive,” said Zhang Jianyong, a child social worker from Hubei province, central China.
The new parenting style has attracted much attention on mainland social media, with related topics attracting more than 230 million views.
One online observer said: “I used to get frustrated with how slowly my son got ready. One day, I copied his pace and took an hour to dress. He could not take it and rushed me. He has never been slow again.”
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