Inthespringof1999IspokeaboutChinatoagroupofovereightyAmericansecondgradestudentsintheUS.Thechildrenwerecuriousaboutsomanythings:theGreatWallpandasmartialarts.Morethananyothersubjecthoweverthe

　　Inthespringof1999IspokeaboutChinatoagroupofovereightyAmericansecondgradestudentsintheUS.Thechildrenwerecuriousaboutsomanythings:theGreatWallpandasmartialarts.MorethananyothersubjecthowevertheseyoungpeoplewereinterestedintherelationshipbetweenChinesechildrenandtheirparents.

　　AsIdescribedhowChineseparentsraisetheirchildrendrawingontheexperiencesofmyfriendsandtheirkidsitoccurredtomethatparentsintheUSandChinadiffergreatlyintheirapproachtoparenting.IntheUSparentstendtoencouragetheirchildrentodeveloptheirpotential(潜能)tothefullestdegree-inawordtodream.Fathersandmothersfrequentlyputintheirchildrenbothambition(理想;抱负)andasimportantlytheconfidencenecessarytoworktowardtheirgoals.Americanparentstendtobeverypositive:theyconcentrateonwhattheirkidscandonotwhattheycan't.AsaresultmillionsofAmericanboysandgirlsgrowuphopingtobecomeactorsandathletesstatesmenanddoctors;manyevenwanttobecomepresident.

　　Americanparentsoftenencouragetheirchildrentobecomeinvolved(参与)inextracurricular(课外的)activitiesofalltypesatschoolsuchasstudentgovernmentsportsandmusic.Theybelievethatonlythroughinvolvementintheseactivitiescantheirchildrenbecomehealthyyoungadults.

　　Schoolworkisimportanttobesure.Butparentsrealizethatthesocialskillstheirchildrenlearnfromnaturalinteractionwiththeirpeersinnon-scholasticsettingsaremoreusefultodeveloptheskillstheywillneedinthe"realworld".What'smoreimportantintheofficeplace:asoundknowledgeofphysicsortheabilitytocommunicateeffectively?

　　AsaruleChineseparentsdonothelptheirchildrentodevelopthesamekindofambitionandconfidenceAmericansputintheirchildrennordotheyencouragethesamelevelofinvolvementinextracurricularactivities.Childrenaretypicallytoldtostudyhardandpassexams.Toooftentimeawayfromschoolbooksisseenastimewasted.

　　ThisapproachhascreatedsomuchpressureforChinesechildrenthatleadersinChineseeducationalcircleshaveissuedcallsforlesshomeworkatthelowergradelevels.Onlyhealthykidscanbecomehealthyadults.MoreandmoreChineseparentsrecognizethi