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Lauren Chan

Parents are snapping up children’s story and exercise books at this year’s book fair, with those aimed at kindergarten students proving increasingly popular.
The bestsellers are exercises for primary school children from KEA Learning International, one of dozens of publishers at the fair targeting children so young they don’t even know how to use chopsticks and pens.
“Sales of kindergarten exercises have greatly increased in the past one or two years,” Lee Wing-lam, manager at the KEA stall, said.
Controversy, cooking and cats: Hong Kong Book Fair opens doors to eager crowds
The annual Hong Kong Book Fair, which opened on Wednesday and ends next Tuesday, is one of the largest in the world and features local and international publishers.
“I’ve bought more than 10 exercise books today,” Yoko Wong, a housewife in her late 30s, said.
She had her hands full of such books for her five-year-old son Isaac, who was about to start primary one.
“He’s used to having to do lots of exercises. No work, no playtime for him.” Wong added.
When the Post asked whether Isaac enjoyed doing the many exercises, he managed a silent and rather feeble-looking nod.
“Since we’ve been here, he’s just been eyeing the toys,” Wong jokingly observed.
All work and no play: Hong Kong kids miss out on quality time with parents over summer
Lee believes the recent popularity of her kindergarten exercise books is related a growing mentality among Hong Kong parents to “win at the starting line”, meaning children are required to start extra lessons and exercises younger than ever.
“Apart from Finding Dory books, this year our most popular products have been exercise books for primary school,” Lee said, noting that parents were buying exercise books for kindergarten-aged children to use during private tuition.
However, none of the parents the Post spoke to agreed in principle with the “starting line” mentality, including Wong.
“A child should just achieve to the maximum of his ability,” she said.

“The mentality isn’t very good for the child, but I can’t help but follow it,” said housewife Mandy Leung, 42, who was looking for storybooks to help improve her daughter’s English.
The girl is entering primary five.
“As a parent, you feel lots of pressure from the teacher and classmates – many of them already have extra classes,” Leung said.
“It’s very hard for kids nowadays to have a happy learning experience.”
Perhaps because parents are aware of the tough learning environment their children face, many parents also crowded around storybook stalls.
“Parents also pay a lot of attention to choosing children’s storybooks,” Carmen Leung Ka-man, marketing manager at the Sun Ya Publications stall, said.
She did not think that exercise book sales were any different from last year.


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Hong Kong Book Fair

Too young for chopsticks, but old enough for homework: exercise books for kindergartners a big hit at Hong Kong Book Fair

Five-year-old Isaac is about to start primary one. Photo: Lauren Chan

Mandy Leung with her daughter at the Hong Kong Book Fair. SCMP Pictures (UNDATED HANDOUT)

News

Hong Kong

Education

‘Win at starting line’ mentality pushing parents to make children take extra classes and do exercises at younger age
