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Anxious Chinese mothers turn to pricey ‘parent awakening camps’ for academic help

Controversial “parent awakening camps” are attracting anxious Chinese mothers willing to invest significantly in confronting gaming addiction and poor academic performance.
Promoted by an increasing number…

By Samantha Johnson / August 17, 2026

Controversial “parent awakening camps” are attracting anxious Chinese mothers willing to invest significantly in confronting gaming addiction and poor academic performance.

Promoted by an increasing number of family-education services on mainland social media, these programmes promise to transform parenting practices and mend strained family relationships.

Reports from mainland media indicate two primary models: traditional courses and lectures led by certified counsellors, and expensive schemes that have been criticised for exploiting parental anxiety through misleading claims and unqualified instructors.

Most participants are reportedly middle-aged women from traditional households, where men fulfil the role of breadwinners and women are expected to bear most domestic and child-rearing responsibilities.

In traditional Chinese families, women often shoulder child-rearing and household duties. The photo above shows mothers engaged in a group training session. Photo: RedNote
In traditional Chinese families, women often shoulder child-rearing and household duties. The photo above shows mothers engaged in a group training session. Photo: RedNote

Zhang Ruilian, a mother from eastern China’s Shandong province, invested nearly 30,000 yuan (US$4,500) in a so-called Wise Parents Awakening Camp, as noted by Jizhou Studio.

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