A family in Zhongshan, Guangdong, has sparked widespread online discussion after hiring a university student to look after their child during the summer holiday for a monthly salary of 3,500 yuan. The parents, who both work full-time, needed someone to care for their child while school was out. Instead of hiring a professional tutor or nanny, they chose a university student because private tutors in the area typically charge between 100 and 200 yuan per hour, making long-term care prohibitively expensive.
Under the agreement, the student works from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and has weekends off. The parents prepare lunch in advance and leave it in the refrigerator for both the student and the child to heat up at midday. Once the parents return home from work, the student finishes the day.
According to the mother, the arrangement has been successful. She said the university student is energetic, gets along well with the child, and often takes the child outdoors for activities. Compared with more expensive childcare services, she believes the arrangement offers good value while giving her child a more enjoyable summer.
The story quickly drew mixed reactions online. Many people praised the arrangement as a practical solution that benefits everyone involved. From the parents’ perspective, the monthly salary is far lower than the cost of hiring a professional nanny or paying for full-time tutoring, while still providing supervision and homework assistance throughout the day.
Supporters also noted that the job is attractive for university students. Compared with temporary summer jobs such as handing out flyers or working long hours in retail, childcare offers a more comfortable indoor environment, stable income, and an opportunity to develop communication, patience, and responsibility. For many students, it represents a flexible form of summer employment.
Others pointed out that children may benefit as well. University students are often closer in age to young children than parents or grandparents, making it easier to build rapport. They can combine study support with games and outdoor activities, creating a more engaging experience than traditional tutoring or routine supervision.
However, critics questioned whether the salary fairly reflects the workload. Although the monthly pay may appear reasonable at first glance, the position requires ten hours of work each weekday, resulting in a relatively low hourly wage. In addition, the arrangement does not include employment benefits such as social insurance, and some observers argued that it relies heavily on mutual trust rather than formal labor protections.
Another major concern is the lack of a written contract. Many similar arrangements are based on verbal agreements, leaving responsibilities unclear if disputes arise. If a child is injured during outdoor activities or another accident occurs, determining legal liability could become complicated for both the family and the student.
Some also emphasized that this model is only suitable for certain age groups. Older children who mainly need companionship, supervision, and homework help can generally be cared for by university students. Infants and very young children, however, require specialized feeding, medical awareness, and around-the-clock care that untrained students may not be equipped to provide. In such cases, professional caregivers remain the safer choice.
Many dual income families struggle to find affordable and trustworthy childcare during school holidays. Public holiday care programs remain limited in many areas, leaving parents to rely on private market solutions that vary widely in quality and cost.
The summer childcare market has also become increasingly segmented. Wealthier families may hire students from prestigious universities to provide bilingual education and enrichment activities, while middle-income families often seek caregivers with early childhood education experience. Others simply need someone reliable to supervise children and assist with homework. These different needs have created a diverse but uneven market.
