A naked three-year-old crawling on all fours at a highway rest area has reignited China’s long-running debate over unconventional “natural parenting” and how much control parents have in raising and educating their children.
Video of the toddler surfaced on October 15, showing him behaving like a dog and picking up food from the ground with his mouth at the rest area in Ya’an, Sichuan Province. Two adults, later found to be the boy’s parents, stood nearby while tending to their one-year-old. Witnesses at the scene suspected child abuse or kidnapping and called the police.
Following an investigation, authorities confirmed in November that the family is from Nanjing County in southwestern Yunnan Province. Both parents, who are university educated, claimed they were practicing “natural parenting,” a method they say aims to “respect children’s nature.” The boy, they explained, loved imitating the family’s pet dog and preferred to be naked, behavior they did not attempt to correct. Authorities reported no evidence of abuse.
The incident, which social media has dubbed “Yunnan wild child,” raised a huge wave of public concern over child welfare. Many netizens condemned the parents for depriving the boy of dignity and normal social development.
In China, however, many families have embraced forms of “natural parenting,” often linked to homeschooling, something that is not legally recognized in China. These parents argue that keeping children out of the exam-driven school system can preserve curiosity, creativity and a closer connection to nature. The model appeals particularly to those searching for alternatives to China’s highly competitive education system.
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