Chinese school uses dolls to teach students empathy and parental responsibility

A child takes care of a doll/ File:Mommybites

According to South China Morning Post, the Yuanzhong Special Education School in Xuzhou city admits teenagers with low motivation to study, addiction to online games, and behavioral problems. The school has recently gone viral on social media after footage showed students carrying dolls on their backs during classes, holding them during lunch, and caring for them as if they were real “babies.”

According to the school administration, this initiative is carried out as part of “gratitude education.” The school principal, Du, stated: “We provide students with the experience of caring for a baby so they can understand the hardships their parents go through. They are required to manage the dolls’ eating, sleeping, and daily needs for one week.”

In viral videos, some students can be seen simulating parental care by squatting and walking with 2.5-kilogram dolls. One student described the impact of the experience: “After walking one kilometer in this condition, my legs went numb. I realized how hard my parents work.”

The practice has sparked widespread discussion on social media. While some users support the method as educational, others argue that it is unrealistic and may have potential negative psychological effects. Critics also emphasize that such methods could negatively influence young people’s future decisions about marriage and having children.

Meanwhile, some parents have expressed support for the program, saying it has improved their children’s sense of empathy and gratitude. The school maintains that the approach aims to change students’ behavior and help them adopt a more responsible outlook on life.