Differences in Family Education Between China and WesternCountries

何芳

1.Introduction

This thesis is intended to help people have a clear understanding of the differences in family education between China and western countries. Whatever China or western countries，parents behavior always have a great effect on their children. This thesis analyzes the differences in family education between China and western countries，and tells people how to cultivate a good child.

2. Differences of Childrens Living Ways

2.1 Dependence and Independence in Different Ages

2.1.1 Zero Years Old to Six Years Old

In the western countries，parents cultivate kids independent living ability when the kids begin to speak. They learn to eat，or to turn over picture album. Parent gives enough time to their kids to enjoy themselves. Parent helps kids develop good habits.

2.1.2 The Primary School Age

Chinese primary school students also pay most attention to the study，if they do something，they just know mad playing. The parents also think children are young，they cant do anything. Parents havent tell them how to development a group or team.

American boys and girls begin to organize playing football. They play under organized discipline instead of play casually when they are just between seven and twelve years old. Parents also help them to invite coach to teach them，practice them，and take part in competitions.

2.2 The Parents Attitude for Bad Habits

2.2.1 Chinese Parents Attitude

Chinese parents always like to peep childrens diaries when they find children have some strange or bad habits. They are afraid of their children falling in love with someone，or doing some wrong things.

2.2.2 Western Parents Attitude

Kids like watching TV，and giving up eating supper. Western countries parents let children do this. Children are hungry in the middle night，but there are no supper and food for him. They would eat supper on time next day.

3. Equality and Authority in the Family

3.1 The Attitude of Treating Children

3.1.1 Equal Rights in the Western Countries

Everyone is equal，and family members respect each other. The American parents like to ask suggestions to the children about something for family，Such as，decorate a room or solve some problems. It is not only respecting kids，but also making kids think deeply.

3.1.2 Males Being Superior to Females

Many Chinese parents look up to men and down on women. This phenomenon is a result of the traditional Chinese culture and ideology.  Chinese parents have traditional breed thoughts. Many Chinese people think that bringing up sons can support parents in their old age.

3.2 The Authority in the Family

3.2.1 Beating Students as a Punishment

In China，beating kids is a common phenomenon. For instance，the kids wear little clothes in the cold weather;the parents would help them to wear it. If kids dont accept parents kindness，they cry or throw away the clothes，Chinese parents will be very angry，and then the parents will give them punishment.

3.2.2 Persuasion and Education

In western countries，parents like to persuade their kids not to do something in true examples. For example，we know that the kids like to wear shoes in wrong way，they always like to wear right shoe with left foot，western parents do like this：they would warn their kid in words when children do a wrong thing.

4. Utilitarianism on the Study and Autonomy for Researching

4.1The Purpose of Study

4.1.1 Study for Earning Money

Many Chinese parents like to send their children to the training centers to improve study scores. Chinese students are tired when they begin to study in the school. Slowly they dont know what they like to do. Parents also tell children must enter a good school，have high scores，have a good job，and so on.

4.1.2 Study for Knowing More

American parents always provide a good environment for children. They allow students to have different ideas and answers. Parents encourage their kids to have independent thinking or critical thinking.

4.2 The Education of Parents Behavior

4.2.1 Enjoying Life

Western countries people like enjoying their life all their life time. There is a typical example to explain it. An old American woman pays off the house mortgage until she would die. She pays more attention to enjoy her life，and she is never worrying the money about the house.

4.2.2 Hardworking

Most Chinese people are very hard-working;they spend their most of the energy on the family. It means that they try their best to earn money for the family. They have a little time to enjoy themselves.

5. Archaism and Liberalism in the Etiquette

5.1 Conservative Thoughts

5.1.1 Feudal Ideas

In China，many parents believe in god or Guanyin. They also ask their children not to do many things to offend them. For example，children cant scold the fairies or Buddha. In the festival，children cant say bad words. People shouldnt take medicine during festival.

5.1.2 Petty Restrictive Rules

Generally speaking，Chinese children are more sensible than others. They must call their relatives to “grandpa，grandma，uncle，aunt”. People think this is a good behavior to respect old one.

5.2 Individualism and Adaptability

5.2.1 Freedom in Everywhere

Western countries children dont like others to control them;even their parents cant stop their thoughts. But they are not wild people;we can see almost American adults are refined and courteous.

5.2.2 Adapt to the New Environment

People are confused for western countries opening family education，but they can adapt to the new environment very soon. They don't like people to control them，but they respect the local conditions and customs of other countries.

6. Conclusion

All in all，family education is a useful course for everyone. We should take effective educational methods in family education. Chinese parents can learn some good ways from western families for creating a better environment.

Bibliography

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