With exceptions, Black and Latino parents are traditionally more focused on happy childhood than academic performance. Perhaps some of them dislike academic pressure.

I feel they care about their kids no less.

Chinese parents feel “if we care about our kids’ well-being, then we also care about their academic standing in the school.” If they fall behind in class then we need to take it seriously and help them improve.

In a school in China, half the kids are below average, by definition! Chinese parents take it seriously and work hard to get their kids to put in more effort. Balance-striking is subjective, and the typical Chinese parent tends to sacrifice play time and non-academic development. Some U.S. parents may despise us. They could be right in the end.

If still the kid is below average, then we parents accept that we and the child both worked hard. “Let’s not push ourselves to an unhealthy level. Let’s have confidence that we would catch up progressively in a few years.” Some (like my dad) say that in peace; some say that grudgingly, with regret.

In conclusion, No I don’t think Chinese parents care more about our kids, but yes we care more about academic progress.

If in moderation, that’s usually a good thing but could be problematic if the child is a late bloomer or not academically inclined.

I wonder what German (and other European) parents do. They are less academically focused than Chinese parents, but many German students achieve academically later on.