-NiE ,
18 January 2017
Raising children
INTERMEDIATE Family matters
IN 1979, China started a policy to control its population and avoid high rates of poverty. This was known as China’s one-child policy. Around one-third of its population could only have one child. Just over half of the population could have a second child if the first child was a girl. In 2015, the country reversed its policy to a two-child policy to boost China’s economy and stop China from becoming an ageing society.
NiE Activity
Read this article that appeared in The Star on Oct 24, 2016.
Second-child policy setback BEIJING: China’s latest family-planning policy, which allows all parents to have a second child, is facing a major setback and demographic change seems irreversible. Most couples in China, especially in the cities, have decided not to raise a second child as a result of fast-rising family expenses. Many among the working class living in major Chinese cities cannot afford to have a second child. There are also some families that have chosen to respect the wishes of their first child and not have a second child. The release of the second-child policy was aimed at alleviating the problems of an ageing population and the gender imbalance in China, but policymakers are not satisfied on its progress so far.
Activity B
Activity A Critical thinking l Identify
l Measure
l Reason
l Organise
Problem solving l Question l Recreate
❏ Their feet
l Present
Communicating l Oral
Do you find babies delightful? Or do you find them frightfully scary to be around? Work on this activity in pairs. Rank (from 1 to 8) what you love about babies the most:
l Aural
Collaborating l Listen
l Compromise
l Contribute respectfully
l Attain goal
l Identify
l Measure
l Reason
l Organise
Problem solving l Question l Recreate
Creative thinking
Critical thinking l Imagine
l Connect
l Brainstorm
l Invent
Communicating l Oral
l Present
l Aural
Collaborating l Listen
l Compromise
l Contribute respectfully
l Attain goal
There are many things parents must think about in order to have a baby. What are some of these challenges? Work in pairs to complete this table. See if you can come up with one other issue – that has not been mentioned – in the list below.
❏ Their scent ❏ Their hiccups ❏ Their clothes
Consideration
❏ Their feeding time
1. Name
❏ Their playtime
2. Health
❏ Their laughter
3. School
❏ Their innocence
4. Sleep
Problem
5. Work 6. Food 7.
Activity C l Identify
l Measure
l Imagine
l Connect
l Reason
l Organise
l Brainstorm
l Invent
Problem solving l Question l Recreate
l Present
Creative thinking
Critical thinking
Communicating l Oral
l Aural
Collaborating l Listen
l Compromise
l Contribute respectfully
l Attain goal
Due to population growth and environmental problems, should families have fewer kids? What is your stance? Students who are for the motion should group themselves together under NATION A. Students who are against the motion will be known as NATION B. Each group has 20 minutes to come up with strong points to support their beliefs. Look for evidence and facts or stories from the newspapers to support your case. Then, select three spokespeople to highlight your points. Each team may refute the other’s points after the presentation. Your teacher will be the judge and decide on the team that has presented its points with factual information.
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