‘Natural parenting’: naked China boy running on all fours raises concerns over child welfare

BEIJING: A Chinese boy was spotted running on all fours naked and behaving like a dog, while his parents dismissed government inquiries, claiming it was a form of “natural parenting.”

On Oct 15, a video was posted online showing a naked boy running on all fours in a highway service area in southwestern China’s Sichuan province.

Social media users were shocked to see the boy acting like a dog, picking up food from the ground with his mouth and sniffing it before eating.

His parents were nearby, travelling in a recreational vehicle (RV) alongside a one-year-old child and a dog. The parents and toddler were dressed. The father also appeared to be teaching the toddler how to walk by supporting them under the arms.

The video raised concerns about child welfare.

It was later revealed that local social workers and police officers had visited the family, who live in Nanjian county in southwestern Yunnan province, multiple times but were shut out by them.

The family, including the boy’s parents and grandparents, insisted they practised “natural parenting” with the three-year-old boy.

The Nanjian government disclosed that the family “has no financial difficulties.” They own a village house but prefer to live in a shed and in their RV.

According to China Newsweek, the boy’s father, in his 30s, is a local of Nanjian with a university degree. His mother, around 40, has her household registered in Beijing and holds a master’s degree.

A villager reported first seeing the boy in 2023. He was often naked and dirty, even in winter. She also observed him sticking his tongue out like a dog and making unusual sounds.

The villagers were aware of the family’s situation. Some had called the police, but the boy’s way of living remained unchanged.

Some villagers and volunteers offered food for the boy, but their help was declined by the parents, who insisted they did not need assistance.

Rumours circulated online that the parents were profiting from the boy by posting videos of him on the dark web. The government denied these allegations but stated they would investigate the family’s bank account for any suspicious income.

On Oct 20, it was reported that the family agreed to dress the boy and teach him to walk on his feet. They also indicated they would register his household in Beijing.

Meanwhile, online observers called for continued government monitoring of the family, with some expressing concerns over the lack of official intervention regarding poor parenting.

“If they truly believe in ‘natural parenting,’ they should also walk on all fours naked,” one commenter noted.

According to Chinese law, the government has the right to petition for and revoke parents’ guardianship if they inflict harm on their children. This law has been in effect since 1987 but was rarely enforced until 2015 when a more detailed set of official instructions on how to revoke guardianship was implemented. – South China Morning Post