Hong Kong Chinese parents' perceptions of the ideal child

Hong Kong Chinese parents (N = 420) were interviewed individually to investigate their perceptions of attributes of the ideal child. Results based on content analyses of the parents' narratives showed that four categories of attributes of the ideal child emerged from the data: family-related attributes (good parent-child relations and fulfillment of family responsibilities), academic-related attributes (good academic outcome, positive attitude toward studying, fulfillment of responsibility in studying, and high education attainment), conduct-related attributes (good character, self-discipline when going out, obedience to the law, no acquaintance with undesirable peers, and no naughtiness), and other attributes (such as having good relations with others and being mature). No gender effect was evident with regard to parents' perceptions of characteristics of the ideal child. The findings suggest that Chinese parents' perceptions of attributes of the ideal child are closely related to traditional values in Chinese culture.