Mother in China triggers tough parenting debate after making son, 8, collect rubbish to repay US$3 he stole from grandmother

A Chinese mother who caught her son stealing beat him and then sent him to collect recyclable waste to earn money so he could repay what he stole. Her actions have renewed online discussion on the mainland about tough parenting, a perennial subject of conversation among Chinese parents. — SCMP

An eight-year-old boy in China who was forced by his mother to collect recyclable rubbish to earn enough to repay 20 yuan (RM13 or US$3) he stole from his grandmother has renewed debate about tough love parenting.

A news report on the unnamed boy from Xiamen in Fujian province, southeastern China, getting caught stealing went viral on Tuesday and triggered heated online discussion about parenting and discipline.