A self-proclaimed parenting expert in China, known as Duan, has stirred significant controversy online for his unconventional and physically demanding training methods for his baby son. Duan, 38, from Jiangsu province, manages a Douyin account under the name “Teacher Duan’s Parenting,” showcasing his parenting style with his three children: a seven-month-old son and two daughters aged five and two.
Duan’s videos frequently depict his children engaging in potentially hazardous activities. For instance, he allows his daughters to take their baby brother to play in a creek during rain without any protective gear. He justifies this by saying, “Children need to connect with nature, and feeling the flow of water is tactile training.”
In one video, Duan places his baby son on a climbing net at the beach, claiming that this net-grabbing exercise enhances the baby’s courage and finger strength. Another clip shows Duan placing his son on the pedal of sports equipment and shaking it rapidly, asserting that this boosts the baby’s balance. Duan even places his son on a tree, using one hand to protect him while filming with the other, stating that this tree climbing activity helps the baby develop a sense of security by trusting his father’s protection.
One particularly contentious video shows Duan placing his son on a rolling skateboard, which he claims stimulates the child’s brain. “My son has been training on the skateboard since he was 30 days old, and he hasn’t been injured once so far, nor will he be in the future,” Duan confidently states.
Duan’s methods have sparked intense debate online. While some support his creative use of common equipment to train his children, many others question his qualifications and criticize the lack of scientific basis for his techniques. Duan claims to be a psychological counselor and children’s physical fitness trainer, yet he has not provided any certification to substantiate his expertise.
Critics argue that Duan’s training methods put children in dangerous situations. “His training methods have no scientific basis and instead always put the children in dangerous situations,” one online observer commented on Douyin. Another added, “Duan uses exaggerated training methods just to attract attention and gain online traffic.” A third person remarked, “He is neither a qualified coach nor a good father.”
Due to numerous complaints, Duan has been banned from posting on Douyin. Meanwhile, another prominent parenting influencer from Shandong province, known as “Qian Yue’s Aunt,” faced backlash for a video in which she threw a five-month-old child into the air, claiming it was “sensory integration” training to improve the baby’s attentiveness.
Wang Qiongli, a pediatrician at Huazhong University of Science and Technology Xiehe Shenzhen Hospital, criticized Duan’s methods. “A seven-month-old baby is very fragile and cannot be vigorously shaken on sports equipment, which could lead to various consequences such as joint dislocation, cervical spine injury, intestinal obstruction, and concussion. Infants lack self-protection awareness. The viral online training methods are unscientific and unsafe,” Wang told the Post.
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