Leng Jiahong and her family live in Xinyi, a city in east China's Jiangsu Province. Leng and her husband, Jiang Dawei, devote themselves to family education, and to organizing and/or participating in public-welfare activities that benefit children and their families. Leng and Jiang founded a parent-child reading group approximately five years ago. Jiang Junrui, their son, has been "a little leader," who has led children's participation in reading events organized by his parents.

Reading a Part of Growth

In 2019, Leng and Jiang Dawei established the reading group to encourage parents and their children to read on a regular basis, and to help the children develop an interest in reading. In addition, during school vacations and/or holidays, Leng and Jiang Dawei sometimes organize activities to get members of their reading group outdoors; for example, to participate in walks in the countryside, enjoy a barbecue, or visit the elderly in nursing homes. Leng and Jiang Dawei believe reading is an indispensible part of a child's growth.

What's more, parent-child reading has a positive influence, in terms of fostering advanced family education concepts, deepening children's emotional bonds with their parents, improving mutual understanding between children and their parents, enhancing children's communication skills, and cultivating children's good habits, such as showing filial piety and shouldering their social responsibilities.

As a mother, Leng has felt the need — and done her part — to act like a "bridge" that connects schools and families. In the past few years, she has visited schools, communities, towns and villages; during those visits, she has explained to children and their parents her understanding of scientific family education approaches, and the importance of enacting the Law of the People's Republic of China on Family Education Promotion.

Enthusiastic About Public-Welfare Activities

In May 2022, Leng participated in an initiative launched by the organization department of the Party (Communist Party of China) committee of Xinyi and the women's federation of Xinyi. Since then, Leng's family has paired with and provided support to a boy who lives in Tulou, a village in Yaowan, a town in Xinyi. The family treats the boy as a close member. During weekends and holidays, Leng and Jiang Dawei often invite him to their home, and they ask their son, Jiang Junrui, to read, write calligraphies, and play Chinese chess and other games with the boy. When the boy is at his home, Leng and her husband often contact him, to encourage him to read and study hard. They also contact his teachers, to make sure he is doing well in school.

Leng and her family also include him in various leisure activities, such as making crafts, to enrich his after-school life. The boy, who used to be shy, and who lacked self-confidence, has become happier and more outgoing, especially since he and Jiang Junrui have become good friends and companions. Leng and her family have shown their enthusiasm for public-welfare activities. For example, they have donated items to several schools in Xinyi, and they have made donations to help leukemia patients in Shaodian and Yaowan (both towns in Xinyi). Leng also joined a publicity group, composed of members of the "most beautiful families." With other members, Leng has visited schools, communities, towns and villages to promote family virtues.

In May 2023, Leng's family was selected a National Most Beautiful Family. In previous years, her family was awarded, in Jiangsu Province, for their good family education and reading habits.

When asked about her family's selection as a National Most Beautiful Family, Leng told Women of China, "It is absolutely a great honor, which has brought greater responsibilities to my family. The three of us — me, my husband and son — are encouraged and inspired to inherit and promote our family virtues. We will give full play to the role of 'most beautiful family,' by bringing positive influence to more families in our neighborhood. Therefore, more and more small families, like ours, will contribute their strength to building a harmonious and beautiful society, shared by all."

Photos from Interviewees

Source: Department of Family and Children's Affairs of the ACWF

 (Women of China English Monthly July 2024)

Editor: Wang Shasha