"Comfortable and Well-Paid"... China's Buzz Over College Students' 'Sweet Part-Time Job' in Summer Childcare

Chinese Dual-Income Couples Hire College Students for 770,000 Won a Month
Working Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Duties Include Supervising Summer Homework, Reading Picture Books, and More

As the issue of childcare during summer vacation has become a serious concern among dual-income couples in China, a recent post by a parent on social networking services (SNS) has attracted attention.

On July 16, Sina Finance reported, "It has become popular for dual-income couples to offer a monthly salary of 3,500 yuan (about 770,000 won) to college students via SNS, hiring them to look after their children during the holidays."

As the issue of childcare during summer vacation has become a serious concern among dual-income couples in China, a recent post by a parent on social networking services (SNS) has attracted attention. AI-generated image.

Reflecting the Reality of Dual-Income Parenting... Heated Debate on SNS

As the issue of childcare during summer vacation has become a serious concern among dual-income couples in China, a recent post by a parent on social networking services (SNS) has attracted attention. Photo to help understand the article. Pixels.

The outlet stated that this trend "directly reflects the realities of modern parenting." At the same time, it noted that "heated debates have emerged on issues such as whether college students are truly capable of caring for children properly."

The parent who posted on SNS, identified as Ms. Chi, shared, "Using official childcare services can cost 4,000–6,000 yuan per month (about 880,000–1,310,000 won) even without accounting for lunch and supplies. If you hire a professional tutor, it's 100 yuan (around 22,000 won) per hour, so that totals more than 10,000 yuan (about 2,200,000 won) over two months." She added that leaving her child with grandparents is no longer an easy option due to their age. If the child stays home alone, he ends up being addicted to TV or videos instead of spending time outside, which in turn leads to sleep disorders.

Ultimately, Ms. Chi decided to employ a local college student as a home childcare tutor, setting the salary at 3,500 yuan per month. Working hours run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with weekends off. Lunch is prepared in advance at home, so it only needs to be reheated. The work is not easy. Job duties include supervising elementary school summer homework, reading picture books aloud, making educational materials, riding bikes outside, and playing ball games, among others.

Ms. Chi said she feels more reassured because, unlike after-school programs where a single instructor teaches more than ten children, the college student provides one-on-one guidance. She expressed her satisfaction, noting, "In just fifteen days, my child's smartphone usage has dropped, and he now eagerly awaits the tutor's arrival."

Relief from Ever-Increasing Education Costs? Concerns Over Labor Exploitation as Well

As the issue of childcare during summer vacation has become a serious concern among dual-income couples in China, a recent post by a parent on social networking service (SNS) has drawn attention. Photo to aid in understanding the article. Pixels.

The media outlet reported that this arrangement is drawing interest from both dual-income couples and college students. Compared to official childcare services, it is more affordable and allows for greater focus on one child. College students, for their part, see it as a "sweet part-time job" since alternative part-time work pays barely more than 10 yuan (about 2,200 won) per hour. The appeal lies in spending time with children in a pleasant environment while also covering their living expenses.

However, concerns have been raised that caring for a child for eight hours is a heavy responsibility, and a monthly salary of 3,500 yuan is far from generous. Some claim that the hourly wage is even lower than jobs focused mainly on cleaning, amounting to labor exploitation. There are also many cases where no formal contract is in place, which means there are no clear solutions in the event of unexpected issues such as property damage or child injury—this has fueled further controversy. Additionally, some parents are criticized for demanding extra services such as house cleaning or tutoring aside from the agreed compensation.

Sina Finance described this as "a typical example of the clash between the childcare demands of dual-income households and the low-cost childcare market." It emphasized, "Even as education costs continue to rise, middle-class families can still afford professional tutors, but families earning 5,000–6,000 yuan per month (about 1,100,000–1,320,000 won) are reaching their financial limit." The report also quoted a lawyer as advising, "It is better to hire students majoring in early childhood education, and CCTV cameras should be installed in shared spaces." He further stressed, "Rather than relying on verbal agreements, details such as working hours, salary, job scope, and safety responsibilities should be clearly stated in a written contract."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.