A Similarity between China's & Singapore's Society
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As I read the following article, I can't help but feel we have the same issues of 'Little Emperors' herer in Singapore
Initially we were told to stop at one, now, many don't even wants to have even just one due to high costs of living.
Tell me what you think? Are we to be blamed?
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China's spoilt brats get shock treatment
Boot camps spring up in major cities to tackle over-indulged children
August 15, 2006
JUST last week, pampered 10-year-old Hao Yi was living a blissful life at home.
Time for rest for children at a summer camp organised by a slimming centre in central China. --REUTERS
As he watched DVDs and played computer games, his two sets of grandparents would feed him sweets and pander to his every whim.
Days later, the plump child found himself in the middle of a military assault course clinging on for dear life on top of a 6.5m-tall pole.
Scared to the point of wetting himself, Hao Yi was trying to cross a narrow plank suspended high above the ground while an instructor dressed in combat fatigues urged him on.
And he has his parents to thank for putting him through this tough obstacle course, which is a part of the Golden Dream Summer Camp.
Like many other children in China, Hao Yi is a product of the country's single-child policy, which has led to hordes of 'Little Emperors' growing up spoilt and overweight from being pampered by parents and grandparents.
To jolt them out of their cushy existence, a rising number of middle-class parents are sending their children to tough summer boot camps, reported The Sunday Telegraph.
Scores of such camps have sprung up all over China because of high demand.
Hao Yi's banker parents paid about RMB2,000 ($400) so that he could spend 10 days at Golden Dream.
TOUGH LIFE
At the camp, the experience the children get is worlds away from the comforts they are used to.
When they arrive, they are stripped of their handphones, MP3 players and pocket money. Then, they are ushered to their new bedrooms - cramped dorms with no television sets or air-conditioning.
During their stay, they are woken at dawn to go through a series of tough activities during the day before lights out at 9.30pm.
'They have suffered from too much love,' says the camp's director, Mr Song Hao, 30.
'They lack discipline, are lazy, selfish and expect to be waited upon.'
Mr Song blames the phenomenon on China's one-child policy, which was introduced in 1979 to curb rapid population growth.
He said: 'The parents were over-pampered. But the latest generation is worse because they have been spoilt rotten. Parents and grandparents who look after them can't cope, so they send them here.'
But the camp is about more than just instilling discipline.
'We are here to instill confidence,' said Mr Song.
'Part of the failings of being an only child is that you lack will and drive. We see great changes in the children after their time here, and they secretly enjoy it as they make good friends.'
But not everyone appreciates the tough love.
And Mr Song believes that the lack of discipline in some kids is often a reflection of their parents.
During one camp, a girl who managed to smuggle in her handphone called her parents to rescue her from the camp. Three friends did the same.
The next day, four mothers descended on the camp in their BMWs and gave Mr Song a tongue lashing for treating their kids so roughly.
'I couldn't tell the difference between the behaviour of some of the mums and their children,' he said.
'When you see a mother argue with their son or daughter, it's like watching two 6-year-olds. Neither has developed their emotions properly.'
That's why last year, he started a day camp catered to just the parents.
He said: 'They come to learn how to discipline their kids and learn how to say no to them. They also discover how they were denied a proper childhood because they were not allowed to fend for themselves. We are trying to get the two generations to grow up together.' -
the same trash decended on sg...
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I like tat sentenceOriginally posted by mistyblue:the same trash decended on sg...
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Boot camps spring up in major cities to tackle over-indulged children >
only thing is that we don't have any camp for the spoilt brats or their overly indulgent parents! -
NSOriginally posted by pearlie27:Boot camps spring up in major cities to tackle over-indulged children >
only thing is that we don't have any camp for the spoilt brats or their overly indulgent parents!
OBS? -
Forget about that article.
The Chinese and Indian professional FTs I've met are smart, hardworking and ambitious. They came from countries which because of their vast size mean that they are tough because they got to stand out. -
The ones I've met are just the opposite, and from the stories I hear from friends working in Sg and overseas (States) working with them, its the same.Originally posted by sourketchup:Forget about that article.
The Chinese and Indian professional FTs I've met are smart, hardworking and ambitious. They came from countries which because of their vast size mean that they are tough because they got to stand out.
If you work in the research industry like I'm do (really alot of foreign 'talents' here), you'll really see how 'hardworking' they are (esp PRCs). -
isnt it fair to say that singaporeans are pampered as a whole.
how much hardship have we undergone? -
Only our forefathers (maybe our granddad or great granddad's generation) have gone through that period of hardship and nation building.Originally posted by dragg:isnt it fair to say that singaporeans are pampered as a whole.
how much hardship have we undergone?
Not only Singaporeans are pampered. The younger generations of other countries, China and neighbouring Malaysia also have never gone through much hardship and hence are pampered. Think that's why they starting to implement the NS phase also for their teens. -
they gotta live n learn the real world... the tough life.. heh heh ~
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wat I m worrying r not the boys but the grls they will destory us any times!!
In Chian after the cultural revolution,they had come 2 us and produced all the kinds really 2 cheat and w/in 5 to 10 years, we are gone>
I m not kidding!~that why we hve to migate w/in the time frame n let LKY children live here!!!