A father posted a video of his three year old son forced to do push-ups in the snow in just his underpants and was seen by millions of people around the world. The little boy was crying and we were outraged that a father could be so cruel. Chinese businessman He Liesheng is proud of the name Eagle Dad and said ‘Like an eagle, I push my child to the limit so he can learn how to fly.’
He chose the name “Eagle Dad” because when a baby eagle is large enough, the mother takes it to the edge of a cliff and pushes it off and when it falls into the valley, it learns to fly. Although some may die Mr He points out, most don't and it is an extreme form of education.
In China there is a lot of pressure on one-child families and Eagle Dad believes his approach will help his son win an early place in one of China’s leading universities. He turned four last week and has already started school at an elite private primary school where the youngest pupil is supposed to be six years old.
His father has filled every minute of his day with a punishing schedule of climbing, swimming, skiing, skating, chess and martial arts. Mr He also has him repeat special phrases that will encourage him to improve himself such as “Duo Duo, you are the best. You are beautiful. You will grow up healthy. You are confident. You love physical activities. You will enjoy your life and your family.”
One such exercise, imposed when he was two years and nine months, was to stop him crying. Mr He said proudly: ‘Soon after he would wake up, we would say to him, “Duo Duo, you mustn’t cry. You have to be strong.” After we did this, he improved and he stopped crying.’
The family spent a winter break in New York where Duo Duo attended a kindergarten for three months as part of his education. On the eve of Chinese New Year, he was sent outside in the snow, and his picture went around the world.
‘I did it for three reasons, Mr He said. ‘First, I wanted to do something to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Second, I did it because China is developing very fast and I wanted to show that if a child can accept this kind of extreme education when they are young, they can overcome any difficulties the future might hold. And third, I did it because I want Duo Duo to be strong.’
He was surprised by the global reaction. ‘I didn’t realise people would react in the way that they did. In China, about 60 per cent of people disapprove of what I did, 20 per cent approve and 20 per cent don’t know what to think. But I don’t regret what I did and would do it again – or maybe another similar kind of exercise to make him stronger.’
Mr He is basking in the limelight of his notoriety and has numerous laminated Chinese newspaper cuttings of the story, he has also appeared on television and intends to write a book about his approach to parenting.
Mr He said: ‘I am responsible for preparing the schedule and Duo Duo’s mother is responsible for carrying it out. She doesn’t agree with the way I am raising him and sometimes we quarrel about it but she has seen how he has improved so she agrees to carry out my instructions.’
Mrs He stayed in New York when Mr He returned to China at the beginning of February. He said ‘Of course, she has seen all the reports in New York and is very worried about them - I don’t know if she is angry or not – but it is true to say that she disagrees with my methods.’
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