A Shanghai mother who shared her experience on an online bulletin board about how to teach her 4-year-old son to live independently has stirred a hot debate.

The mother, surnamed Cheng, said on the site she had set up a tight schedule for her son's daily life. He must dress himself within eight minutes after waking up, bathe himself independently and use the toilet alone at midnight. Cheng was proud of her son's level of self-discipline, but many mothers criticized her for lacking human kindness, saying her behavior would ultimately harm the boy's mental health.

(Xinwen Morning Pos)