Chinese parents traditionally view summer as a time for academic advancement, leaving many children dreading the break
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenFran Luin BeijingPublished: 2:00pm, 13 Aug 2026A new term, “pre-made children,” has recently gone viral on Chinese social media, highlighting the trend of parents prioritising their children’s studies over rest and enjoyment during summer holidays.
This term, which gained traction this summer, is inspired by the concept of “pre-made meals,” describing factory-processed frozen foods that are easy to prepare.
With many restaurants opting for this method over traditional cooked-to-order meals, the phrase carries a negative connotation in China, as people widely believe that only fresh food is healthy.
“Pre-made children” refers to children forced by their parents to study lessons they will learn in the coming term during their summer break.
In eastern China’s Zhejiang province, a mother insisted that her Primary Four son study Chinese poems, recite English vocabulary, and attend online maths classes throughout the summer, despite these subjects being covered by schoolteachers in the autumn.
The mother, surnamed Li, expressed that she and her husband must tutor their son after work each day, which leaves them exhausted; however, she feels “anxious” about not ensuring her son studies in advance.
