China is known for a traditionally strict parenting style. Discipline, obedience, and academic achievement have for generations been the cornerstones of Chinese child-rearing. But a new study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychology in 2025 shows that times are changing.
Warmth Trumps Control
The researchers examined Chinese Gen Z children — that is, children born after 1995 — and found something surprising. Children with parents who scored high on warmth but low on control had better social and emotional development than children with traditionally strict parents.
This fundamentally breaks with what has long been the norm in a collectivist society where family and community needs traditionally outweigh those of the individual. The researchers point to globalization, technology, and cultural openness as driving forces behind the shift.
A Generation in Transition
China's one-child policy (1980–2015) created a generation of parents who were themselves only children. Many of them want to give their own children a different upbringing than they had. Combined with increased access to Western culture and research through the internet, parenting styles have gradually softened.
This doesn't mean Chinese parents have become "permissive." The study shows that warmth and engagement remain central — it's the rigid control and punishment-based discipline that appear to be losing ground.
Interestingly, this mirrors a global trend: from Japan to Brazil, researchers see similar movements toward more relationship-based parenting.
What Does Research Say Internationally?
Child development experts and organizations like the AAP and WHO have long recommended an authoritative parenting style — a combination of warmth and clear boundaries. There is broad professional consensus that children need both love and structure, and that physical punishment is never acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an authoritative parenting style?
An authoritative parenting style means combining warmth and love with clear boundaries and expectations. Child development experts recommend this approach because research shows that children who experience both care and structure develop best socially and emotionally. It's not about being strict or permissive, but about finding the balance.
Is it better to be kind than strict with your child?
The research from China shows that warmth and engagement are more important than strict control for children's social and emotional development. Professional recommendations are to be clear and warm — that is, to set boundaries with respect. Neither permissiveness without boundaries nor strict control without warmth yields the best results.
Does this mean you should drop boundary-setting?
No, the study is not about removing boundaries. It shows that rigid control and punishment-based discipline produce worse outcomes than a warm, engaged approach. Child development professionals are clear that children need predictability and structure, but that boundaries should be set with explanation and respect — not through fear or punishment.
Are parenting courses available?
Yes, many communities offer parenting courses through local family services. Programs such as ICDP (International Child Development Programme) and Circle of Security are widely available and are built precisely on the principles of warm, sensitive parenting with clear boundaries. Ask your pediatrician or local family services about what's offered in your area.