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As someone with a kid in China, kids TV is far more formative than books. Why? Books in Chinese are not read by kids, they are read by parents since it is impos

As someone with a kid in China, kids TV is far more formative than books. Why? Books in Chinese are not read by kids, they are read by parents since it is impossible to learn enough Chinese characters to achieve literacy while young! In my observation, most Chinese parents are very busy and do not spend much time reading with their kids.

evolighting 9y ago
And in fact, kids are busy too! I have seen it too often, while parents are busy working, their kid even at nursery school are busy having various kinds of classes.
forapurpose 9y ago
> it is impossible to learn enough Chinese characters to achieve literacy while young Interesting ... at what age can children begin reading children's books? Adult books? How do schools teach children who can't read?
- evolighting 9y ago
  There are books specially designed for different levels. Such as books with phonetic annotation，or book using only "easy Chinese characters" with pictures would be pretty easy to read by very young kids. As for Adult books, I belive a primary school student at about grade 3 maybe "can read" with a little struggle. As they have learned enough basic word to understand the sentences, even if there are few "hard word" remain unknown.
baldfat 9y ago
> In my observation, most Chinese parents are very busy and do not spend much time reading with their kids. Grandparents and Tiger Moms don't read to their kids? Grandparents lived with their grandchildren in China as a whole. My wife teaches English to Chinese children through the internet and the sessions cost them about $20 US dollars. There is always an adult close at hand and seems much more active in their children's lives. Now for your daily dose of Chinese Propaganda 88% of parents read 23 minutes everyday. Also there is no link to said "study." http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-04/21/content_22412555.htm http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-04/21/content_22412555.ht... One big take away. In the US we push all Kindergarten students to read (age 5 or 6). In this paper 77% read at age 8 grades 2 or grade 3 in the US.
- watwut 9y ago
  What makes you think that Tiger Moms and predominant child raising style in China?
  - baldfat 9y ago
    > What makes you think ... I follow the money that is spent on education in China by the child's parents. We don't even come close in the US. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-10/30/content_33880964.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-10/30/content_338809... Just look at VIP Kids and the other English teaching startups where Chinese parents spend $20 for a 25 minute session twice a week. VIP Kids now has 30,000 US employees teaching these kids. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-23/china-s-vipkid-raises-200-million-from-tencent-sequoia-china https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-23/china-s-v... If they aren't the predominant style they still spend a ton of money on children's education.

evolighting 9y ago

And in fact, kids are busy too! I have seen it too often, while parents are busy working, their kid even at nursery school are busy having various kinds of classes.

forapurpose 9y ago

> it is impossible to learn enough Chinese characters to achieve literacy while young Interesting ... at what age can children begin reading children's books? Adult books? How do schools teach children who can't read?

evolighting 9y ago
There are books specially designed for different levels. Such as books with phonetic annotation，or book using only "easy Chinese characters" with pictures would be pretty easy to read by very young kids. As for Adult books, I belive a primary school student at about grade 3 maybe "can read" with a little struggle. As they have learned enough basic word to understand the sentences, even if there are few "hard word" remain unknown.

baldfat 9y ago

> In my observation, most Chinese parents are very busy and do not spend much time reading with their kids. Grandparents and Tiger Moms don't read to their kids? Grandparents lived with their grandchildren in China as a whole. My wife teaches English to Chinese children through the internet and the sessions cost them about $20 US dollars. There is always an adult close at hand and seems much more active in their children's lives. Now for your daily dose of Chinese Propaganda 88% of parents read 23 minutes everyday. Also there is no link to said "study." http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-04/21/content_22412555.htm http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-04/21/content_22412555.ht... One big take away. In the US we push all Kindergarten students to read (age 5 or 6). In this paper 77% read at age 8 grades 2 or grade 3 in the US.

watwut 9y ago
What makes you think that Tiger Moms and predominant child raising style in China?
- baldfat 9y ago
  > What makes you think ... I follow the money that is spent on education in China by the child's parents. We don't even come close in the US. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-10/30/content_33880964.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-10/30/content_338809... Just look at VIP Kids and the other English teaching startups where Chinese parents spend $20 for a 25 minute session twice a week. VIP Kids now has 30,000 US employees teaching these kids. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-23/china-s-vipkid-raises-200-million-from-tencent-sequoia-china https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-23/china-s-v... If they aren't the predominant style they still spend a ton of money on children's education.