Does It Really Work? The Trending Chinese Parenting Approach of 'Reverse Parenting'

In many Chinese families, modern parents are changing their child-rearing methods from traditional instruction and commands to a 'role-swapping' approach aimed at better understanding their children's perspectives. This concept, called 'reverse parenting', is rapidly gaining popularity among millennial parents. The core of reverse parenting involves parents mimicking their children's behaviors or emotions to create equality, open communication channels, and encourage children to reflect on their actions rather than using direct orders or force. The trend began gaining attention in November 2022 after a viral incident in Heilongjiang province, where a mother allowed her 3-year-old daughter to go outside in freezing weather wearing only a thin princess dress. Instead of forcing her to wear a coat, the mother calmly followed the child, letting her experience the cold directly. Social media users praised this approach, seeing more value in direct experience than repeated explanations. The trend has since developed into three distinct approaches: role reversal, experiencing consequences, and emotional mirroring. While still controversial, 'reverse parenting' is becoming an alternative method for modern Chinese parents seeking to build understanding, responsibility, and maturity through real-life experiences rather than strict discipline.