Center gives parents a lesson in encouragement(2)

Like in Feng's case, the change has not gone unnoticed. "My mother seems more concerned about me than before," said Qin Nan, Li's daughter. "After I finish my homework, she checks it and answers the questions I don't know."

The impact of the Maple program is obvious, according to Wu, who said many parents quickly realize the importance of family education and change their attitude, showing more respect and love toward their children.

First teacher

According to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Social Construction Blue Book, people without permanent residency, or hukou, made up 40 percent of Beijing's population of 20 million in 2011.

The report predicted that figure will grow rapidly, too, which means the Maple center is likely to have no shortage of customers in the near future.

"According to our research, migrant workers generally lack family education," project worker Wu said. "They often pass responsibility for educating their child onto schools. They just don't realize they are a child's first teacher, or that families play a great role in the psychological health and growth of children."

The problem, she said, can largely be put down to the low education level of most migrant workers, as well as the time they spend at work compared with time spent with family.

Liu Xuejun, vice-principal at Haidian Xingzhi Experimental School, one of the center's partners, can attest to the pressure put on teachers to take on an almost parental role.

The school, opened in September 1994, has about 850 students, most of who, she said, come from migrant worker families in which the parents "pay more attention to making money than caring about their child's education".

She confirmed that many of these parents had received little education themselves, and believe raising their child is entirely the school's responsibility.

"But our teachers are often busy preparing lessons and checking students' homework," Liu said. "They don't have time to communicate with parents about each child's performance in class."

That is why a program such as the one run by the Maple center, which offers in-depth counseling and guidance for parents, is so vital.

"The parenting workshops have received a really positive response," she said. "This is only the second year our school has participated in the program, but I can see that many parents have changed a lot.

"It's a great platform to boost understanding and communication," Liu added. "I only hope more parents take part."