The lived realities of left-behind children in Mainland China: Life and values education in the home and at school

Left-behind children (LBC) are a social and educational concern in China. Researchers have identified psychological and behavioural effects on LBC. This study creates a profile of LBC in rural Sichuan and identifies life and values education (LVE) as a beneficial intervention. Interviews were conducted with six LBC, two parents and one teacher. The data indicate that LBC face challenges in the areas of parental communication, being raised in non-parental homes, family and social networks, and regulation of emotions. LVE may help minimise the negative consequences experienced by LBC but lack of parental and educator LVE knowledge may hinder implementation. Copyright © 2021 National Children's Bureau and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.