Video of Chinese boy crying in snow sparks uproar
A home-filmed video showing a four-year-old Chinese boy being forced by his parents to run almost naked through the snow in bitterly cold New York has gone viral and sparked an online uproar.
The father was reportedly trying to train his son to be strong and healthy, and the footage has sparked debate about “Chinese”-style tough parenting — as famously illustrated by Chinese American “Tiger Mother” author Amy Chua.
In the video, the little boy runs towards his father, who is filming him, in thick snow with only his shoes and underpants on, at times crying bitterly and pleading with his dad to take him in his arms.
On several occasions, both parents tell their son to lie down in the snow, which he does eventually when his mother presses him.
The film — posted online by his father, who comes from the eastern city of Nanjing — has been viewed by tens of thousands of people on various video sharing websites and has caused outrage.
The father has been given the nickname of “Eagle Dad” in reference to Chua, who sparked controversy when she wrote a book extolling the benefits of tough parenting.
Chinese reporters who managed to interview the father found out the family was on holiday in New York during the Lunar New Year holiday last month when the video was shot, and the temperature was -13 degrees Celsius (nine degrees Fahrenheit).
The father — an entrepreneur — was trying to train his son to be tough after he was born two months premature, suffering from various health problems.
China’s one-child policy has created a generation of only children widely viewed as spoilt.
hmmmmmm! It’s not as bad as little Yue-Yue. What do you guys think?
It’s tough love. Just imagine taking a shower with the water ice cold? Or diving in the ocean in the dead of winter? Yikes!
I hope this little boy’s parents were arrested and put in jail for child abuse! At least one month in the slammer should give his dad a taste of his own “tough” medicine. What do you think?
There is a line between tough love and being psychotic. My dad was like a war general so I know tough love buddy. This dude belongs in prison. Another thing, when you are too tough on people, they shrink up and act like wimps and crybabies, trust me, I know. They go and complain about you for being too hard on them (violins please). Asians are responsible, results driven and reliable. They are the smartest, easiest and best people to work with in my opinion. I have very little to no patience and/or tolerance for people outside of that culture. Too many Americans want a reward just for showing up (however late that may be) and appearing somewhat interested in what they do for a living. Not sleeping on the job hardly earns you bonus points anymore. If anyone needs an ice cold shower, that would be an American, not an Asian, OK?? I really hope this helps! Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂