Parents can be very important teachers in our lives. However, they are not always the best teachers. Parents may be too close to their children emotionally (感情上). Sometimes they can only see their children through the eyes of a protector. For example, a teacher might see a trip to a big city as a valuable experience. However, it might seem too dangerous to a parent.

Another problem is that parents may expect their children’s interests to be similar to their own. If they love science, they may try to force (强迫) their child to love science too. But what if their child’s true love is art, or writing, or car repairing?

Parents usually want to pass on their values to their children. But should children always believe what their parents do? When children are young, they believe that their parents are always right. But when they get older, they will have different ways of thinking.

The most important thing to realize is that we all have many teachers in our lives. Our parents, our teachers and our friends teach us. Books and newspapers and televisions also teach us. All of them are valuable.

Think about what is happening in many families: Kids come home, jump onto the sofa, get lost in the world of the small screen and become couch potatoes (电视迷). Now, a new law is making parents and guardians of minor (未成年人的监护) take responsibility for family education to help shape their children’s future.

Called the Law on Family Education Promotion (《家庭教育促进法》), it is the first of its kind in China and came into effect on Jan.1, 2022. It encourages parents and guardians to educate their children properly, morally (道德上), physically and psychologically.

The law stops parents and guardians from placing too much pressure on their children. Parents and guardians should allow children enough time to study, rest, play and exercise, and make sure children don’t become addicted (上瘾的) to the internet. They should treat all children equally, no matter their genders or physical conditions and should never use violence (暴力) toward children.

For children of migrant workers (外出务工人员) in rural areas, they may be left alone while their parents go to work in cities. The law asks local governments to keep a close eye on such families, and help the parents get jobs locally so that they can be more responsible for their children’ s education.

Family education affects the future of the country, says Sun Hongyan, head of youth and children research at the China Youth and Children Research Center. Now, with the new law, family education is no longer just a family matter but a state affair (事务). Parents who fail to educate their children properly might be breaking the law and will be given a warning.