Educators draft parenting guidebook

Education experts gathered in Beijing on Sunday to discuss an upcoming new guidebook on parenting in China.

The 60,000-word book is set to contain 40 lessons on topics ranging from learning methods to mental health.

It is being compiled by a group of education specialists with support from the TAL Foundation, which was set up by K-12 tutorial service provider TAL Education Group in 2013 to boost educational equity in China.

Shen Xianzhang, vice-president of TAL Education Group, said the book was being compiled to provide guidance on how to be an effective parent, adding: "we hope it will assist parents in providing their children a better family education."

Last year, nine departments including the All-China Women's Federation, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, jointly released a five-year plan for boosting what was termed "family education". President Xi Jinping also stressed the importance of family education during Spring Festival.

Wang Ling, one of the book's authors and a member of the parent cooperation committee affiliated with the China Association for NGO Cooperation, said effective parenting involves mastering a number of disciplines including education, health and psychology.

Huang Haoming, director general of the China Association for NGO Cooperation, said education starts at home.

"No matter how society changes, attention should always be paid to family education," he said.