Across China: Babysitting, popular summer gig for Chinese college students

By Dai Ruoxuan, Zhang Yiyi

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- This summer, like many of her peers, Cheng Xin (pseudonym), a university student in east China's Zhejiang Province, took up babysitting as a part-time job.

It was not her first experience. During previous holidays, she had already provided childcare for busy parents.

"I first learned about this job on Douyin when I saw college vloggers share their babysitting experiences. They played with kids and recorded their daily routines, which seemed interesting," she said.

Seeing parents posting babysitting requests on the secondhand marketplace app Xianyu, she considered it a good opportunity. "Kids need companionship, and I enjoy being with them. I can also earn some pocket money, so I decided to give it a try."

Cheng's daily routine as a babysitter is both structured and varied. In the morning, she arrives at the employer's home to help with breakfast and homework. When the weather is pleasant, she takes the children outdoors.

At midday, she prepares simple meals if the parents are busy. In the afternoon, she leads English-based interactive activities. Throughout the day, Cheng keeps parents updated with photos and short videos. "It's important to keep parents informed," she said.

Cheng's well-designed activities create a bilingual environment tailored for different age groups. For children aged 3 to 5, she uses immersive play such as singing English nursery rhymes, and for elementary schoolers, she plays word-chain games.

Parents believe that college babysitters bring unique advantages. Compared with grandparents, college students often have more energy and interact with children in more creative and dynamic ways.

Unlike Cheng, another college babysitter, Chen Ke (pseudonym), entered this field by chance when her cousin asked her to look after her six-year-old niece, Xiaohuasheng, last summer.

"I taught her characters, read stories and spent our free time drawing and folding paper together," Chen said. She noted that babysitting differs from tutoring, as it requires not only academic guidance but also emotional support and engaging playtime.

"When she gave me a drawing of an animal and said, 'I only want to play with you,' it felt so worthwhile," Chen said. Spending time with children, she added, also helped her shed her impatience and reflect upon the meaning of responsibility.

On China's social media platform Xiaohongshu, hashtags such as "college students babysitting" have attracted over 46 million views and more than 1.1 million discussions. On Douyin, related topics have racked up nearly 400,000 views.

Parents are also welcoming the trend. "A college girl comes daily to build blocks and read picture books with my elder daughter. My daughter loves spending time with her, and I can also enjoy a break," said an expectant mother in Beijing.

According to Chu Zhaohui, a researcher at the China National Academy of Educational Sciences, the phenomenon is "a two-way growth experience."

The moderate age gap between college students and children makes interaction easier, he said, adding that children can learn more efficiently in such an equal relationship. Meanwhile, college students can gain a stronger sense of responsibility and valuable social experience.

Still, the market of college babysitting remains largely unregulated. Chu suggested that, with growing demand, parents and students should draw up written agreements to clarify responsibilities, duties, schedules and payment. Such measures, he said, would protect both sides and encourage broader participation.