China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Cesar R, Pasadena, Tx. — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:57:34 GMT

Maybe American kids can benefit from this too.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Stefanie Austin,TX — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:17:49 GMT

The US should do something like that, bring culture into the classroom and help to keep kids from obesity.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

BT, Columbus, OH — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:53:49 GMT

While this would be a great idea for America's youth, I don't think it would really work for those kids that need it most. The kids would whine to their parents about how much physical activity they're required to do at school or that they're embarrassed by participating in the activities, and many parents would just call the school and have their children excused from these activities due to "Medical Reasons"...just like they do for regular gym class.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Ruben Vasquez Queens New York — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:58:32 GMT

Mandatory gym every day in school will do the job at least a hour daily.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Don, New York, NY — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:59:30 GMT

Are you kidding? Are those children dancing because they are encouraged by the government? Or are they being forced to dance?

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Erin New York, NY — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:59:46 GMT

I remember when I was in Jr.High at a Catholic school and the end of my 8th grade year they started doing a program like that. It had really good results because at the next school dance everyone was dancing. It lifted that awkward veil that some kids hide behind.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Ashley — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:11:28 GMT

Although I do agree that the US should maybe take a harder stance on exercise especially in young children, to incorporate 'culture' into their schooling, this would prove to be very difficult. The US is made up of so many cultures it would be hard to focus just on one for fear of offending another.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Fritz — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:11:30 GMT

An excellent idea to fight obesity and engender a sense of unity. A strict dance regime stressing uniformity and conformity with patriotic martial music in the background followed by rigorous indoctrination sessions on the correct way to live in society would greatly benefit youth and quash out their frivilous senses of individualism.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Marie Britt — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:11:59 GMT

Here in America, our kids need to dance.....away from the vending machines still found in many schools that offer fattening snacks and sugar-filled soft drinks. Whoopi Goldberg stated that the last generation has sired a new generation of barbarians, and she is right. The unfortunate eating habits of today's kids fall right in with that observation.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Marie Britt — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:24:09 GMT

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Destiny Nampa, ID — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:31:20 GMT

My husband is a ballroom dance instructor, and the change I've seen in some of his students is amazing. The benefits of dancing are not limited to the physical ones; they go far beyond into things like improved social interaction and coping skills, performance anxiety reduction, and self esteem boosting.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Sarah Moss, Asheville, NC — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:34:33 GMT

I believe that gym class used to be mandatory in US schools but a lot of schools have cut that time out of schedules (due to budgets?). Or, the gym time is no longer each day, it is once a week, or something along those lines. The big thing to point out here is that if the right diet and lifestyle are enforced BOTH in and out of school (attention, parents), then there wouldn't necessarily be a need to incorporate additional or other forms of phsycial activity into school curiculums to combat the growing obesity epidemic. However, I think dance instruction in U.S. schools would be a great addition to any curriculum, not just for the physical benefits, but for the social benefits as well.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Stephen McNeill, Xingtai, Hebei, china — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:55:40 GMT

I am an American who lives and works in China at a Chinese school. I am appalled at the tone of this article. "Nicknamed little emperors?" Nicknamed by whom? Americans. Shimmying? Boogying? Get real. As a former journalist, I suppose this writer thinks she is being clever and cute, but this article is actually demeaning, and I don't care if she is Chinese or of Chinese ancestry. These kids are under so much pressure here that Americans could barely comprehend, students or parents. Puppy love? Most of the kids I teach (ages 12-17) are far more immature in the area of "love" or "early love" or "crushes" or whatever you want to call them, than their American counterparts. Yes, schools and parents do try to dissuade the kids from falling in love too early, but is that such a bad thing? Both cultures have a lot to learn from each other. I teach 2000 students, and the majority of them, the VAST majority, are far thinner than American kids. Look at the pictures that go with the article. Do you see any 150-200 pound kids? And yes, it is the western food. Refined foods. Fatty foods. When I return to America, I put on 20 pounds in a month, but after going back to China, I lose them. This time I have managed to keep them off. How? Not by dancing, even though I am thinking of taking it up. I eat a sensible breakfast, a large lunch, and a VERY small dinner. It works. No cookies, no ice cream, no junk. Forced to dance? You make it sound like they are forced at gunpoint. Get real. But I'll tell you this: Chinese students are not allowed to whine their way out of physical activity, school attendence, or exams. Wake up, America. Our blessed country is creating a generation of litigation.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

J.M.Carlile-Sparta,Tennessee — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:58:01 GMT

I went to high school in years 64-67. We were required to have an hour each day of physical education. Inside or out according to the weather. I only remember 2 people who were considered "fat". Even they took phy-ed. Bring back physical education and make it a required subject.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

sara- Marietta, GA — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:02:48 GMT

The US should do gym once or twice a week instead of every day. The rest of the week should have dancing classes to make school a little more interesting. I bet a lot more people would enjoy school.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Brian E. Virginia Beach, VA — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:04:57 GMT

Its nice and all to fight obesity. And they say their kids are putting on weight. But if you look at the pictures, all the kids are skinny. So are they embarrased to show the fat ones dancingor are they trying to show up the USA

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Ken Collins, Wagoner, Iklahoma — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:15:46 GMT

A fact, 60% of our students nation wide grades 1 thru 12, are in the obese level. They probably would not be allowed to participate because Mommy and Daddy would fear that it would be to strenuous on their little puff babies !!!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

vickie, owensboro, kentucky — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:16:56 GMT

I returned from a visit to China last week as part of a delegation visiting schools. We visited a preschool that had some wonderful little dancers who were having a great time. The teachers also danced. If it is started early enough, it will work! They don't have a chance to perceive it as something to be embarassed about.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Sade, RSM, Ca — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:23:49 GMT

I wish I lived in China. Suchcreative solutions. Except for the anti-love part. Good thing I'm in college. :D

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Justin Tanoa Fl. — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:34:54 GMT

I don't agree with labor camps! However tis new chinese dance program sounds good to me! The Chinese are atleast taking action! Better than having a bunch of fat, lazy people! I think it's a good idea!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Andreas Fester El Paso Texas — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:44:03 GMT

I agree with all of you, however I am a soccer coach and altough I own my private club, I can't begin to tell you what type of trouble you would run into if you would try to implement something like this. Some of you have already touched some areas that would cause you to have conflicts with the parents, now try to divide the different culture, with the different types of religion and now try to find the right type of music for this......seems endless doesn't it. I think we need to go back to the basics and turn the schools back to the teachers with mandatory PE classes, to make it short if you imigrate from another country do as the romans do, intigrate and accept that culture, I don't even think you can call it the United States of America any more. By the way I imigrated from Germany.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Darrell, Austin TX — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:44:16 GMT

I thought they were already doing martial arts for exercise! Hmmmm, maybe it's our turn :)

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Laura Austin, TX — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:44:27 GMT

when I was in school - which wasn't that long ago... we WERE required to have an hour of gym everyday. What happened? Why did it change? While exercise or lack there of is clearly a problem, the parents are enablers and that's the biggest problem. We need to quit talking about how child obesity and what not is a huge problem in America and actually do something about it. Educate the parents. Lower income families don't spend much on food, so when they do spend, they spend it on cheap, high calorie, foods that have no nutritional value whatsoever and it only increases the problem that we are already facing.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Ben, Tianjin, China — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:48:31 GMT

I live in China in a city of over 10 million people. Juvenile obesity is so ostensibly common here that I am beginning to think I live in Houston or Chicago. The idea of organized dance classes seems like a great idea if only to get these pasty kids outdoors. Food for thought: even sports related activities in Chinese schools are performed in uniform with some sort of a collectivist undertones, so choreographed dance classes aren't exactly a move away from individualism for them.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Sandy, Pasadena — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:52:26 GMT

Thank for the insight Fritz. Obviously the West has got it all figured out. When our kids grow fat off of all the junk food, soda, and fast food, and become obese adults, we'll sell them the myriad of diet fads/gym memberships/weight loss pills that gets promoted. If that doesn't work then our overburdened health care system can take care of it. Let's sing the praises of Capitalism and Democracy. Here's to our sense of individualism and freedom to choose to get fat and die young from heart disease. Let's analyze who this exactly benefits? ...the food corporations? big pharm? Certainly not the uneducated poor masses who don't have good health insurance but tons of access to cheap unhealthy fast food. The last I noticed the 99cent food menu at McDonald's isn't targeted at the wine and brie crowd.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Ben, Tianjin, China — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:58:58 GMT

Also, in response to Stephen McNeill's posting, this article is not a diatribe on China or Chinese culture. It does not attack or visibly aim to discredit Chinese parents' desire to shelter their children. Never in the article is the glory of Western fast food chains extolled or the quality of Chinese cuisine belittled. Do you want the author to refer to small, fat Chinese children as xiao pangpang in a more tasteful and humorously Chinese idiom that won't capture American readers' (the target audience of this piece) attention or even make any sense to them? It's all well and good to criticize the media (God knows it needs it), but don't do it just for the sake of telling the world you used to be a journalist please. Good article.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

CC, Seattle, WA — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:08:38 GMT

That will never happen here in the US... the states with required testing (such as the WASL in Washington state) have eliminated PE and recess in favor of curriculum that focuses on nothing but passing those stupid tests, so the schools don't lose their funding. The pressure on these kids is ridiculous, and now they don't even have PE or recess as a release! So now we have a bunch of fat, stressed out kids who eat instead of run & play. Take away the video games and kick the kid outside to get some exercise!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Achij Ortega, Houston, TX — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:11:45 GMT

I also think that this dancing activity is a great idea. Since the US is a blend of different cultures, and therefore, different dances, a sign-up sheet listing the various dances available to the students will prevent argument and dispute.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Lauren, Rochester NY — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:26:45 GMT

i lived in china as a teenager in 2001 (in Shenzhen) and you rarely see obese people. The pictures of those kids are how most of them really look. "Fat" to them is what normal people look like here in the US. Seriously, i was a size small american then and when i shopped there i have to buy larges! I think theyre trying to prevent their population from reaching the gross level of obesity that exists in the US. I also lost 20lbs when i moved there, not from dancing but A) from eating rice for just about every meal and B) walking everywhere (the city is larger than NYC). When i moved back to the States i gained all that weight back.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Jane — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:47:02 GMT

I wish All American schools could have one hour of gym time and dancing daily. It will certainly help with kids' waistlines!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Sean, Torrington CT — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:48:24 GMT

Fat lazy Americans judging the Chinese' serious approach to combating child obesity? How ironic!

I can't wait til the anti-smoking jaggoffs start going after you gluttons.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Erica Palsey — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:55:33 GMT

Most of you are sheep. Whoever said that schools should do anything more than teach our children what they need to earn a living. Fat children is a problem the parents of fat children need to fix. Take away TV, Internet, X-Box, and put them outside to play. Give them chores. Don't take your kids fast food or buffet resturaunts This isn't that hard, Do what's right, not whatevery body else does.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Rachel Maley — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:57:05 GMT

I hated gym class - not because of the exercise, but because it was just one long experience in public humiliation. Always the last chosen for a team, always the one blamed for "losing" the big game, always the one made fun of because I couldn't climb a rope (I couldn't get my hands around it!) If gym class had been aerobics or yoga or dancing or some other non-competitive activity, I would have *loved* gym class. It wasn't the activity I hated - it was the humiliation dumped on me by the other kids and, more often than not, the teacher because I am not and never have been good at sports.

Bet I'm not the only one, either.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Grant, Sacramento, California — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:04:32 GMT

It's a good idea but I don;t know if 4 or 5 minutes is really goin got be effective. Also, the pictures creaped me out. They look so propogandish! Reminded me of 1939 Germany .

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

d. carey — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:21:24 GMT

as long as we have working parents, tv and computers, we will have fat kids. overworked parents reley on fast food 5 out of 6 days, tv and pcs to babysit. i grew up playing outside twice a day in grammer school, outside for several hours at home, middle school and high school required 1 hour PE daily, no credits given, that is why my generation is living longer and is still active, its what we grew up with. China has a good idea, we should try it.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

D.J. Ellender Geismar, La. — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:30:29 GMT

Kids in the USA are big babies, if they were made to do this they would run crying to their parents that they had to get off their lazy butts and do something healthy and the parents would raise 10 kinds of hell. POOR BABY !!!!!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

L. B . Nebraska — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:31:50 GMT

wake-up American our kids are fat lazy and live on excuses tell the truth sometimes ok. lying just keep things worst,throw out th tv,put down the junk foods,get off your butts and do somthing other than eating, drinking,drugs,sex and being disrespectful.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Stephanie, Bedford, NH — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:35:58 GMT

This is a fabulous idea, and, Dear China, I sincerely apologize for the influx of American gluttony in your wonderful country. It is very forward thinking of their school system to make the students' physical well-being a priority. However, with regard to childhood obesity in America, I think we are grossly missing the point. The fundamental goal of schools is to EDUCATE children. The fundamental goal of parents should be to take care of everything else. When it comes down to it, by and large, only YOU can determine what your child eats and how much he/she exercises. If you stuff your fat kid full of fast food and send them off to school, you shouldn't expect educators to fix the problem. It's YOUR problem specifically, and an American problem generally. I think it's time for this country to get off its collective lazy a** and quit passing the buck.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Elaine, Salem, OR — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:36:48 GMT

I, too, hated the competitiveness of gym class. Even the calithenics were better. But my parents were so conservative that they sent me to a private Christian school so I wouldn't be exposed to sock-hops... Consequently, I never learned to dance as a child, but am trying to learn as an adult. I would have loved another activity that that was not centered on the fastest, tallest or strongest!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Arlene Long, Munds Park, Arizona — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:37:18 GMT

Ever notice how babies love music? As soon as they can stand upright, they are trying to move with the music. Kids in pre-school and the early grades love to sing and dance. And then, they no longer have fun things to do because they are expected to grow up and take on more school responsibilites at school too soon. (Two hours of homework at night for a second grader?)I digress, that's a whole new subject for a differnt time! As I understand the news article,the kids in China do dancing for thirty-five minutes a day. You don't even need to have a gym class for that! You can do it in the classroom providing you have room. True there is fast food everywhere. Tell me how the little ones order and pay for that fast food? Come on parents be responsible for your kids. Cook some food for dinner and pack a healthy school lunch and do some activities with your kids. How about walking or riding bikes or even putting on some music and DANCE with your kids in the living room? Kids imitate those who are closest to them. Look how obsessed the people in the U.S. are with downing diet pills, fad diets. They want a magic pill to erase away all that poundage. What they should do is get up and DANCE with their kids and have fun again.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

CML, Knoxville, TN — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:59:33 GMT

When I was in high school in the 60's, everyone had a 45 minute gym class each day for 4 years. Looking at 4 yearbooks, there were probably 5 - 10 obviously overweight kids. Check out any yearbooks in the last 10 years and you will see page after page of fat kids.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

john florida — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:00:55 GMT

Sean Torrington:
This is one we can agree on!!!for years parents have fought anything that might hurt their little bundles of joy . To the point that schools are afraid to have gym classes because god forbid the kids might break a sweat. Sports are being killed off and god know you don't have kids playing outside. I miss the days when you could play cops and robers, OH wait a minute that means that you would have a plastic GUN and you can't have that they could grow up and think nothing wrong with guns so that's out.How about dodge ball OH no they might get hit and you can't have that.Then a jungle gym BUT they could fall, god forbid they get a scratch, it could leave a mark.Hide and seek I don't think so they could get lost.Tag that means they have to run and they could fall and that could mean a bandaid. We how about you turn on the T.V. and they could watch it on that instead of going out and doing it for themselves.Or we could buy then a game boy and they could play football on that,or baseball or hockey.We are raising a nation of babies and it's not the kids it's the idiots that have them. They want to protect their feelings and bodies to the point that these kids are not able to handle a little rejection or a loss in life without falling apart.we protect them to the point that they get fat lazy and stupid.we have a genaration that needs to be medicated to be in school (over active)and call it "ADD" when all they need is to burn off some energy.Believe it or not you have a state that passed a law to protect fat people.You see a 100 commercials a week on how to lose weight all of them a magic pill or special food that will help you lose the weight and they show you women that are the happiest people on earth for THEIR HUSBAND SAY THEIR HOT OR THEIR TROPHY WIFE. AND THE ADD ALSO SAYS "RESULTS NOT TYPICAL" yet people dont see the part that says COMBINE WITH EXERCISE" Let the kids play outside when the weather permits, it's ok for them to fall and get a scrape or two. Let the schools have gym classes bring back the jungle gyms.If you wanted kids that stayed still you could have just bought picture of kids and hung them on a wall.Dancing in China give me a break. It's not the fatty foods IT'S THE LACK OF EXCERCISE, THE SITTING IN FRONT OF A T.V. OR A COMPUTOR OR A GAME BOY. IT'S NOT THE KIDS IT'S THE PARENTS, FES UP DO THE RIGHT THING AND LET KIDS BE KIDS.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

MJ — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:15:26 GMT

For those of you who don't know it, many elementary schools have already implemented this concept by having the kids dance to the popular electronic game, 'DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION". The kids have to do the steps in acccord with what the computer shows them, while lively pop music (no lyrics!) serves as accompaniment. The kids seem to like it and it does get them into physical activity.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Didi McFoster — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:25:13 GMT

When I went to high school PE was a requirement. Gym was not all about combative sports. During the rainy season, we had 4 weeks each of modern dance, gymnastics, swimming, calistenics and although I wasn't particulary good at any of them, it offered an opportunity for different exercise mediums and for the time (1964-1968) was probably advangard. When my daughter was 15 (1985) the schools cut out the PE and she promptly gained 20 pounds and was constantly tired from the excess weight. Somewhere, a long time ago, I read that physical activity is necessary for brain activity. I commend China for attempting to do something on a broad scale for their citizens' health. Are we supposed to be surprized when the latest guru tells us that TV, Video games, fast food, convenience food is causing obesity? Duh, what ever happened to common sense? It went out with our preception that the ability to be individuals and have choices is superior over other cultures not like our own. We probably spend millions to subsidize think tanks for these studies.
I also think bad eating habits span our whole society
and not just the monetarily challenged. People today are exposed to healthy eating habits- they just choose what they want- just as they choose to smoke, drink or do drugs. So I guess you can say free agency comes with a price- shorter lifespan?

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

vincenzo duke, virginia beach, va — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:59:14 GMT

i don't condone the government forcing kids to do physical activities. I frankly believe that anything beyond physical education being forced on kids is a stupid idea. We are putting the job of the parents and the INDIVIDUAL into the hands of the government.
I am a prime example of someone who used to be obese and is now muscular as hell. I went from a 30%+ body fat down to 6%. I dont attribute it to being forced to doing physical activity, but to me wanting to do it. I still eat mcdonalds a lot, actually. And for the record i dont have good genetics.
Whenever i go to mcdonalds i eat 5 double cheeseburgers... so diet is not e verything. It is whether or not your kid works out. People who are forced to do something at an early age, generally dont stick with it. If you force the kids to exercise, as opposed to encourage it, then they wont be so inclined to exercise later in life. However, if you encourage it, they will be more willing to do it.

Again, i went from being the most unfit person i knew, to being the best biker i know, one of the best runners, and definately one of the more healthy people with the strongest heart.

encouraging kids vs forcing kids is how you do it

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:08:55 GMT

Dear Nancy Chen, I am someone who loves to dance. I have taken all forms of dance from ballet,tap,jazz,ballroom and line dancing. I have performed onstage with a ballet company and with a line dance team. I started when I was five years old and have always loved to dance. I think it is a excellent idea for these children to take dance classes. Dance is a good form of exercise and teaches good posture,appreciation of music,coordination and to me it is just fun. It may not be for everyone, but I think in the long run it will be liked more and more as time goes on. I would like it better than gym class anyday. As long as they are happy and having fun that is the main idea.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

snoshoe53 arizona — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:14:09 GMT

THE ACLU would not allow it, to force kids to get healthy.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Darold Sanderson, St. Paul MN — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:30:33 GMT

I hated gym class, because I was kind of a 98 pound weakling, and as others stated, got picked last on teams et. Now I am 57, trim do running, swimming and some body training. I don't have a gut hanging out.
People have to be personally responsible for their actions, including weight control. I know some need medical and professional help on that. Anyway, just do it!!!1

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Deborah "Slim" Middleton, Atlanta GA — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:00:21 GMT

Erica, you left me nothing to add. You go, girl!

Parents wouldn't let their kids take herion or play with C4 explosives because those things could be bad for them. Well, guess what: so is fast food, tv, and video games when used disproportionately to healthier choices.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Mike Johngi, Los Angeles, Ca — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:00:56 GMT

I think dancing is a good idea for students. They should dance to the R&B singer Stephan's songs. They can be found at www.urbanverse.com and cdbaby.com.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Deborah "Slim" Middleton, Atlanta Ga — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:03:11 GMT

Rachel -- I was also not good at sports in High School, and felt it unfair that there was a special math class for slow learners and not a special PE class for those of us less coordinated. As an adult, I realized that I really learned a lot by being forced to do things that I'm not the very best in the class, and still having to hang in there and do them to the best of my limited ability. Not a terrible life skill to have.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Jackie, Bremerton Washington — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:03:14 GMT

Like the United States, China obviously wants to obtain good results by providing a childhood education that will benefit the recievers of it in every area of their lives. Maybe dancing is not the answer to the excercise question but later the children will remember that they need to get up and move several times a day. Does anyone remember the square-dance classes they had to take in physical education class? We learned that we did not like to square dance but movement and coordination were learned along with just following directions and working together in a group situation. Personally,I could never even look at my partner, much less fall into early love. It was not life changing but did not hurt either.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Delmar Fairchild, Barron, Wisconsin — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:27:23 GMT

Many people are obese throughout the world for the reason the author said they are. They have too much money and time on their hands. Look at the pictures of our grandparents. If any were obese, it was considered "hereditary". Very often the stay at home mother was the biggest. Most of the dads were very thin from working all day. There just wasn't that much food available back then either and it was a more healthier food. The height of my grandparents was under 6 foot. The boys in my family are all over 6 foot. Look at the suits of armour from England. I don't think the majority of British High School age students could fit in them. In America we do not do the exercises we once did because we are wealthy enough to drive a block to go to the store.
To the people that say we are too diverse a country to have dancing due to religion, etc., then we should have the children or the parents from these different cultures show the rest of the class how they danced in their home countries. It would be both entertaining and a learning process for all the school children. Invite the parents too!
For those that suggest this is some how a mind control issue, our schools have manatory classes everyday. They are called Federal and State mandated classes.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Miska, Vancouver, WA — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:05:34 GMT

I agree with Rachel; gym class was a total waste of time because the focus was on sports, not necessarily fitness! I would have gladly spent an hour a day doing calestenics and exercises, but, they would rather we played volleyball, softball, and games that resulted in mostly standing around, getting injured, or being humiliated because I was not predisposed to playing games! I also believe just doing exercises would be more cost effective - no expensive equipment, except possibly, floor mats!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Dave, Hartford, CT — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:09:55 GMT

I think that mandatory exercise should be made part of Universal Healthcare and Universal Healthcare should be unavailable to those who don't participate. I also think that Universal Healthcare should be denied to all those who can afford the shoes required for exercising. If you can afford the shoes and exercise then you should be healthy and if you get sick you can pay for it yourself.

Long live Billary!!!!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Mike, Leamington, ON, Canada — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:11:53 GMT

I applaud the Chinese for trying to get more involved with the health of their youths but making dancing mandatory is not the answer (at least not by government), parents need to do more parenting and I'm not talking just about Chinese parents but parents in North America too ... Canada also has a large number of obese people, and the numbers just keep growing. What do parents do to help their children ... buy them fast food because its quick, cheap and EASIER. Parents have less time to spend cooking and fast food chains also know this, that's why there are 99 cent menus. Grocers also don't help the situation, take a look in your neighbourhood grocer ... what's cheaper, quick foods that taste good but are terrible for your health or foods that are nutritious. I don't know about anywhere else in the world but in Ontario ... the junk food is much cheaper than healthy food, and by looking at American's waistlines I would assume that the case is about the same there. If the Chinese or anyone else really wants to help their children and their society live healthier lives, why not go after the companies that sell the unhealthy foods and make them raise prices, while at the same time give incentives to healthier production at reduced prices ... I'm just dreaming though, it will never happen

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Suzy, Shangahi China — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:24:27 GMT

As an American expat living in Shanghai, I find it interesting reading these comments. I was not familiar with the term "little emperor" until I was in Hong Kong learning this term from the locals.From my observation, the children in Shanghai are slimmer compared to those in Beijing. Don't be misled by comparing western and chinese eating habits. Oil and msg drenches the food here. People here are always eating on the go.Yes, there are many fastfood chains here.One important part of daily life here is that everyone walks and ride bikes as a means for transportation.This is the problem with the our country,we build our communities isolating our neighborhoods with highways, less parks and no sidewalks to get from one point to the next.As far as physical education in school, this needs to be a priority to not only our school children but our teachers and staff (and even parents) as well to set good examples and benefit overall health. We are a society of whiners, excuses to get out anything and here in China it is not an option or acceptable. My son attends an international school here and the physical education class is emphasized riguously and yet fun. There are no "star athletes", everyone is treated equally. We need to stop buying supersized meals , emphasize nutritional meals at school put less on our plates and get outside and walk and wipe the dust off our bikes.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Henry C, Tennessee — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:29:31 GMT

I think it is a wonderful idea. I remember we had square dancing instead of gym class one quarter in the sixth grade...and we all loved it...but I agree that it can encourage "puppy love"...it's how I found my first girlfriend.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Stephen McNeill, Xingtai, Hebei, China — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:44:31 GMT

Hmmmm. A "has-been" journalist am I. Ha! Ben, I don't know which school you work at, but here in the smaller cities, not bustling Tianjin, the kids are skinny (just as Lauren said, and she was even in Shanghai). Sure, there are some husky kids, and a few obese ones, but VERY few. Ben, to accuse me of using this forum to say to the world that I used to be a journalist is a personal shot, and I don't appreciate it. The writer's statement of "No doubt they worked around the clock to perform it on Tuesday morning," is nothing more than conjecture (look it up), and I am surprised the editors would let it be printed. Conjecture is not news, Ben, so yeah, I know something about journalism. I'm over here teaching on an English degree after ten years of experience as a writer. I have given four years of my life to teaching English and American culture to the Chinese children, and out here in the REAL China (not Beijing, Shanghai or even Tianjin), and there is very little of this so called "little emperor" syndrome, and also fewer "xiao pangpangs" as you so distastefully wrote (for the non-Chinese speakers, it means Little Fat Fat, and could be used as a cruel nickname). So, perhaps we can end our little argument here by conjecturing that the kids in Tianjin are fat, and those out here in Xingtai are skinny. By the writer's account, sounds like news to me. Now, to the readers of this forum who don't wish to make personal attacks (and I was attacking the woman's WRITING, not HER), Chinese children do not suffer from this little emperor syndrome so much as the media portrays it. Imagine that! The media printing something that's not true! Little emperor means spoiled brat and is supposed to be caused by the one-child policy in China. What happens is that the kids are raised by their still-married parents and two sets of grandparents, and are doted upon and spoiled. Funny though, I see fewer kids lying on the floor of a department store kicking and screaming because Mommy won't buy me that toy. Rather, I see, for the most part, well adjusted, happy kids, and again I say, for the most part. My little emperors here are, in fact, so spoiled, they go to school from 7am until 9-10 pm at night, six or seven days a week, and experience strict school discipline (not physical discipline and no, these are not Labor Camps - people, get a clue!. My kids would gladly accept an opportunity for more time in P.E., even if it meant dancing with a (gasp!) girl. You know, out here in China, the kids are not homophobic, either, so my kids would probably rather dance boy-boy and girl-girl. Sure, the older kids are typical teenagers who have become "cool" and sullen, and they won't put much effort into the dancing (and they DO have secret love lives), but the middle-school students would get a kick out of it so long as they didn't have to dance with a member of the opposite sex. I applaud the Chinese government (only on this item) for trying to get their kids to be more healthy rather than finding new ways to keep them from doing activities they should do, like mandatory P.E. classes everyday, and learning to live with and accept competitiveness (what's this I hear in America now, no Dodgeball?). Hey, I was the last kid picked for sports teams, too, but I played, and yes, I was often humiliated, so Rachel, I feel your pain. I agree that Yoga, Karate, or some other form of physical exercise would have been more to my taste (though he be but small, he is fierce!), but I maintain that our American kids still need to learn to be competitive. The kids here in China have a lot they could teach the world about handling extreme pressure and competiveness with the gracefulness of a dancer.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Stephen McNeill, Xingtai, Hebei, China — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:43:52 GMT

Fritz, although I agree with what you wrote in one sense, the people here cannot choose their government (and kids are, after all, just kids). Things are loosening up over here every year, so perhaps an actual trip to China to see it for yourself would improve your perspective. Nevertheless, changes, they are a'comin'.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Joe Franklin, New York City — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:44:31 GMT

The sole focus of schools is hardly to just learn to make a living. That sounds like an awful school. My school encouraged the love of learning, we danced salsa and square dancing, we learned to sing and count in foreign languages, we (even the guys) learned to sew, we (even the girls) learned to change the oil in our car, and our teachers made even the most difficult subjects a lot of fun to learn. And, since it was a public school system in Iowa, it was all free. And even though I graduated 20 years ago, I can name but one or two peers that would be considered overweight. Good teachers and supportive parents (supportive of both the kids and the teachers) are all you need for a good school system.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Nancy Xu, Beijing China — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:18:39 GMT

It's a good thing that dance is practised in school, which will do the kids good in many ways, not just help them get slim. Dance itself is a culture so practising dancing will also be an education. In Beijing many many adults go dancing frequently. If both the music and your partner are good, you will find dance most rewarding and you will be healthy and happy. I am practising modern dance and so are many of my friends and we really enjoy it, especially when we have made some progress. I believe it is a good thing for the kids to dance.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

jeckell — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:53:21 GMT

Sure but what about the people that don't like to dance? Not everyone enjoys dancing. As for american kids getting fat. Well if they wanna get fat and die at a young age of heart attacks or other conditions caused by being over weight let em. Darwins theory at its best right there. Every single fat kid has made the choice that they don't want to be skinny I say we support their choice. Maybe someday they'll decide to try and lose the weight but until then we have no right to force them to lose it.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Trina, Fort Richardson, Alaska — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:27:13 GMT

You know, I think this would be wonderful for American students! Of course, there is a downside to everything (the whiners and complainers), but if it were well-thought out, and implemented properly, I don't why we couldn't do this ourselves. This should be a requirement, actually. It'd certainly go a long way towards curbing obesity, and it'd give the students a chance to 'meet and greet' without having the social pressures they normally would when they are 'out with friends'. It would be a controlled environment. Of course, I suppose the next thing we'd hear about is how teachers don't get paid enough....... *shake head in sadness* I believe they have the right idea though, and we should pay attention to the lessons of others (i.e. learn from others' mistakes/successes).

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Dan Gaizer Jr.,Spokane ,Wash. — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:57:05 GMT

Movement=life.Sport is good,no matter what,as long as it is done in a play form,not competition form !Dance is good,no matter what,as long as it is done in a relaxing form,not in a sissy form.After all,what is aerobic ?it is a danse-sport.What is danse ? it is a graceful sport.What is sport ?it is a rythmical effortful movement.No matter what,give the kids,the will,the time,the space,the joy of moving and all the rest will be fine.Prevent them from becoming obese in the first place by teaching them that we eat to live,not live to eat !

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Surellin — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:48:43 GMT

"...2 inches taller and 6.5 pounds heavier than they were 30 years ago". That's not chubbier, it's just taller. The height-weight chart I'm looking at right now gives 3 pounds per inch of height. Lighten up, comrades!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Snagglepuss, Beijing, China — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:07:16 GMT

I'm a Canadian who has been living and working at a Chinese elementary school now for six years. I see firsthand the effects of the modern Chinese lifestyle on the kids. The dancing may or may not be a good idea, but it is in line with the Chinese way of doing things. The real problem is the one-child policy and the grandparents. Most kids are raised by grandparents, and both sets compete for the affections of the one child. They spoil the kids in hope of gaining favor and are constantly feeding them, increasingly with food with little nutritional valve, although the Chinese diet itself is not particularly healthy, but until recently, they always got lots of exercise. With increasing wealth comes decreasing physical activity; cars, computers, vid games all take the place of more traditional activities. So, until parents and grandparents learn to stop spoiling the Little Emperors, obesity will continue to be a problem here in China.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

patricia gwynne, Perth Scotland — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:11:53 GMT

Kids are getting fatter everywhere. Here in Scotland it does not yet seem to be as rampant as in the US. But there are fat kids with fat parents everywhere. Make the kids exercise. Mandatory gym. Within the first few months of moving here I lost 16 pounds. There is not a McD's or Burger King on every corner hee in Perth. We tax cigs and liquor - where is the fast food tax?

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Dutch L. Madison, WI — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:34:40 GMT

If the hour a day mandatory exercises did not work, then neither will this. Long live Pizza Hut, K.F.C., and Mc Donalds, because their customers won't.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Jim Lonon — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:05:32 GMT

I agree with Erica's "sheep" reference and those that have experienced China firsthand: I have also lived in China. There, I ate rice, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables for every meal. We walked EVERYWHERE, with most large cities having huge "Walk Streets" where there is only foot traffic. Here, there are no "Walk Streets", hell, most new places don't even have sidewalks.
Allow public schools to be "schools", not poor attempts to chase the latest fad in hopes of getting more money. PE should be a required daily course: How the instructors wish to teach it is up to them. And no student should be exempt from participation.
Finally, school lunches should be more fruit and vegetables, less pizza and french fries. And get rid of the vending machines. In the military, there are tables for the underweight and the overoverweight, with one getting more calories, the other much less.
Thank you.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Ed Sewell, Lincoln, NE — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:17:17 GMT

I have never responded to a "Blog" I guess @ 54 I am an old Foggy! But here goes; first of all - for a number of the responses you really need to "Get a Grip", Back off and chill out!! Why must everything be politicized and religiousized!!?? (I say this being a very conservative "Christian"). We are so far overboard worrying about offending people, cultures; etc; petuey!! (That was a disengagement of flem into a spittoon in case you were wondering).

If we cannot ALL take a step back and stop bringing in our own agenda's to correct the world ill's, - well it is not going to happen so get over it!!

Next on the idea of dancing what a wonderful way to bring about culture into the American society and get our obese children off of the couch and away from their destructive video games. I applaud the Chinese efforts to help their children instead of just criticizing them. Good for them!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Stephen McNeill, Xingtai, Hebei, China, soon to be in Beijing — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:48:28 GMT

My wife and I are moving to Beijing next week, and we plan to take up dancing as well. We did in fact have dancing shoes made for us last month in anticipation. Many Chinese love to dance, both traditional dance as well as modern, ballroom and latin. My good friend gets us every morning at six and rides her bike to a park to take dancing lessons for 5 jiao (about a dime). She gets great exercise and increased stamina for her daily life. She runs circles around me and influenced me to give it a try. At 44 I am now in the best shape I have ever been in my life, and that is just from eating right and walking (and climbing stairs). I didn't do Atkins. Sorry to be repetitive, but a sensible breakfast, larger lunch (and a 30-40 minute nap if possible), then finish out the day and end with a bowl of chicken and rice soup or something light like that. I have maintained an ideal weight for one solid year now. And yes, the grandparents do compete for affection, but so did mine back in the states; they just weren't affluent enough to spoil me with material things, but they did shower me with love. I miss them. Propoganda aside, Communism aside, mandatory this and that aside, if you lived here, you'd see families out in the evening taking walks together with their children - dads, too. It's charming and I wish I had that closeness as an American child. We were close, but not that close. I hope China can hold on to its family values, caring for the little ones and for the elderly, before their rising economy does what is has done to our society back home. How many of us really know our neighbors? The answers are varied, I am sure. But last time I was in the states, new neighbors moved in next door, and I took them a cake. They accepted it, but you could see it in their eyes; they thought I was nuts. Yet, I digress. Be on the lookout for China, but try, try to embrace them. The tit-for-tat with visas and now "tainted imports" are nothing more than government ploys to save face (and protect our homelands). My earlier case about the media was only to ask that you thoughtful readers READ what the journalits are writing, and notice their choices of words and guesses and conjectures. No news is completely onjective, but that's what journalists are supposed to learn in school and on the job. I was a thorn in the side of my journalism teacher, but she respected me for it. I read articles and called "foul!" Ben missed my point. This was why I left the field. I wanted to report news. They (some editors) wanted to sell papers and spin articles to suit their opinions. No news is completely objective, and after reading it again, I offer an apology to Nancy Chen. It is a good feature article, which is fluffy news, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. I live here in the school with these kids. There are many problems with the education system. The children seem to be taught to pass tests rather than to think on their own. But this will change; it must. I am grateful for my opportunity to experience a new culture for so long a time. Sorry for writing so much on this blog. Perhaps I have worn out my welcome. I think this is only the second or third blog I have posted to. Perhaps it will be my last. It wastes a lot of my time. I hope to educate, to share, to impart on the readers the need for us to stop the finger pointing and the "getting the creep" from these pictures and such. One day, we shall be friends. I agree with the Olympic Slogan: One World - One Dream. If you care to discuss this off list with me, you can email me at chinese fiction at hot mail.
Please forgive any misspellings - I don't have my glasses on... 8-)

steve

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

DAVIDFRAMPTON CHICAGO IL — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:53:29 GMT

some one posted that it could offend some of them due to culture. this is america, you do not like the way it is dine go back home. believe it or not this is an immigrant writing this.LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Stephen McNeill — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 16:56:28 GMT

Well, we're here in Beijing now, and wow; there's a park right down the road, and there is dancing (what someone told me is "modified ballroom dancing" everynight of the week from 7-10, free of charge, with teachers who also teach for free. I apologize for my first post taking offense to the writer's playfulness - I guess that's just the critic in me and really doesn't belong in the blog. This is also the first blog I have ever posted to (Ed, I guess that makes me a 44-yr-old fogey!). Anyway, wouldn't it be nice to see parks in America filled with people at night doing something like this? Living in China is a challenge for an American, and sometimes I love it; sometimes I hate it. The schools do not *seem* to be production plants for nice little commies. It's just not like that over here. Ok, I'm done with this blog. Next week my wife and I are going to join the dancing public in the park. Maybe I'll get rid of these love handles. Wish me luck and I hope the children have fun with it at school. They sure need a break. My site's not done, but I do this sisterschool project thing at www. sisterschools .com (remove the spaces to get to it). Comments are welcome at chinesefiction at hot mail dot com. -steve, in China, without cheescake!

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Abby, Madison,ga,atlanta — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:53:26 GMT

I love the idea too. I mean i could get two relegular PE classes in mildle school when i could get a dancing or martial arts class istead. that sounds a lot better than geting your elestions PE twice and haveing it 8 times a week.

China’s ‘little emperors’ take up dancing

Andrea, Phoenix AZ — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:04:27 GMT

When my kids were babies, we were financially strapped - like so many Americans today. We went on WIC for about 6 months - do you know what I could get? Milk, peanut butter (the cheap kind loaded with junk) and cheese! The only healthy option on the list of accepted foods was Cheerio's. The point is that poor people are at most risk - they have very little room in their budget for the BASIC NEED of food so they are forced to buy cheap junk...my family can eat cheaper at taco bell than we can buy from the grocery store! Not that we do...but we can. So many people blather on about how you have to make your kids eat healthy, you have to make your kids go outside & play, less TV more activity. Well, you know what? Poor people can't afford fresh veggies....many poor people work 2 jobs so their kids are often alone...remember the term "latch-key kid"? It's so common now that they don't even have a name for it anymore. If I wasn't home, my kids wouldn't be outside...they wouldn't be allowed to be outside! They're not allowed to be outside unsupervised when I am home! And I don't live in a bad neighborhood because now-a-days that's not a requirement for a weirdo....they can strike anywhere! For many kids, the meals & exercise they get at school is the only full meal and exercise they get at all! I am very fortunate now that I can afford to feed my kids healthy food - I don't have to work so I can be home with my kids, I can afford to take them places to get fresh air and exercise, but many cannot!
When I was in school we had PE every day and unless you were on crutches or in a wheelchair due to some traumatic injury...you participated! Parents couldn't write a note or call the school and get you out of class unless you just lost a limb! (I don’t think our parents even thought to do something like that! They had more respect for the educational system.) We also had a semester of dance – and it was a drag in the beginning…but by the end of the class everyone loved it and wanted it to go on! Sadly, it's my generation who is ruining this new generation...I don't know what happened but we are raising kids who won't be able to function in the real world...they all feel entitled to have everything handed to them, they're all afraid to work hard, their parents get involved and blame the teachers if the kid is failing (I worked at an elementary school for 3 years - I've seen it) and as for exercise, those well-to-do people write notes to get their kids out of PE all the time! Then of course there's all the red-tape involved in meeting standards set forth by the government...PE isn't one of the benchmarks that schools have to meet in order to get funding, so it falls further and further into the “not necessary” category in order to make room for more academic classes, just like music & art. To the extreme detriment of society.
The system is so broken there isn’t any one clear cut solution, it’s going to take a lot of little steps in the right direction from many different fronts. Parents and educators need to work together, not consider each other the enemy, stop coddling our kids and teach them how to EARN what they get! Teach them how to live healthy productive lives because they need to learn that or they will fail as adults! The government needs to take notice (and care) about the people it is employed by and actually try to take care of them starting with the most vulnerable – offering them healthier choices…WIC & food stamps should pay for REAL FOOD! Produce, meat other than hamburger, whole grain breads, real juice….healthy choices…not crap that no one else buys! Then of course there’s all the marketing and big pharma…that needs to be controlled – but it won’t because of our freedoms! We are free so that means companies are free to lie to us and steal from us. I won’t even go down that long and twisted road!

The point is - we are all Americans – we are all entitled to healthy food REGARDLESS of our class!!!

But honestly, the bottom line is that NOTHING WILL CHANGE until we wake up from our slumber and make our voices heard!