Summary of Key Points
This article discusses a phenomenon where many parents are preparing their children for the next semester's lessons during the summer vacation, turning them into "pre-made children"—half-finished products that have been processed in advance, with the parents taking on the role of "home school" principals. Educational training companies have adapted by selling learning devices with AI capabilities to help parents prepare their children more efficiently. However, the article warns that this "preparation" focuses on developing the ability to reproduce standard answers, a skill that is rapidly losing its value. The truly valuable long-term business opportunities lie in helping children learn to think independently and manage their own learning.
1. What are "pre-made children," and how do they differ from normal previewing?
Normal previewing involves children using textbooks on their own and asking questions in class when they encounter difficulties, which is an active form of exploration. In contrast, "pre-made children" have their parents or institutions providing them with the knowledge for the next semester in advance—key concepts are explained in advance, practice questions are done in advance, and mistakes are corrected before school even starts. When school begins, the teacher's role is merely to review the material, and exams serve as a way to verify the children's understanding. This type of "preparation" does not cultivate real skills but rather a sense of proficiency; for example, children may solve math problems quickly and correctly after learning the formulas in advance, appearing to be top students, but they may not actually understand how to derive the formulas or solve new problems on their own.
2. Why do parents become "home school" principals?
After the implementation of the "Double Reduction" policies, the number of after-school tutoring classes has decreased, but the competition for academic advancement remains intense (e.g., ranking in exams is based on scores). Parents who start preparing their children in advance give them an advantage at the beginning of the school year, while others have to catch up. In the end, although more time is spent during the summer vacation, the children's relative rankings do not change. This is not just a matter of anxiety but a shift in demand: previously, parents simply paid for tutoring classes; now, they have to take on the roles of principals and teachers, managing the curriculum, providing guidance, and helping with homework. Since most parents lack the energy and skills to do this, educational training companies have found new business opportunities, such as selling learning devices.
3. Educational training companies' "escape routes": Bringing the classroom to the child's desk
In the past, learning devices mainly offered features like eye-protecting screens and question banks. Now, they have added AI capabilities—AI for personalized learning (identifying weaknesses), AI-powered Q&A (similar to one-on-one tutoring), and AI-generated practice exercises. This is more than a simple upgrade; it represents educational training companies integrating their existing courses and research into hardware, essentially moving the "classroom" to the child's desk. Companies like Xueersi and Yuanfu Tutoring have incorporated their courses into learning devices, and iFlytek describes these devices as "comprehensive intelligent services for home learning" that range from diagnosing children's knowledge gaps to providing answers and interactive lessons, as well as generating learning reports. These products address parents' urgent needs to avoid detours and reduce the burden of accompanying their children in their studies. However, there is a significant level of homogenization, with almost all brands claiming to offer personalized and tailored education.
4. With the advent of AI, which skills are losing value?
Large AI models can access knowledge, explain problems, revise essays, and generate practice materials, eroding the advantages that educational training companies once had through renowned teachers and question banks. The knowledge itself has not lost its value, but the ability to reproduce standard answers on a pre-made path is declining. For example, AI can memorize formulas and apply them to problems faster and more accurately than humans. A key question arises: does AI help children learn to think (e.g., by guiding them to find their own problem-solving methods) or merely helps parents prepare their children more efficiently (by providing direct answers)? This will determine the future value of educational companies.
5. The differentiation of two types of educational businesses: short-term profits vs. long-term value
The education industry can be divided into two trends:
- Short-term, efficient "preparation": Companies selling AI-equipped learning devices see rapid growth and high profits, but the competition is fierce, and there is significant homogenization. This is suitable for large companies with capital, technology, and distribution channels. However, if these devices merely help parents with "preparation," they are not fundamentally different from traditional tutoring classes.
- Long-term value: Focusing on developing "future skills" such as real-person companionship in learning, project-based learning (e.g., conducting scientific experiments or completing small projects), outdoor education, and comprehensive growth services. These businesses are harder to standardize, grow more slowly, but they have higher average transaction values and stronger trust barriers. They are suitable for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (where offline human services cannot be replaced by AI) and research-based educational institutions (which rely on well-designed tasks and the quality of instructors, not just a change in name).
The article concludes by reminding parents that they are investing in skills that are rapidly losing value with their children's childhood. The companies that will thrive in the long term are those that help children gradually become less dependent on pre-made learning solutions. What are you selling—parents' anxiety or their children's future?
In one sentence:
"Pre-made children" are a short-term response to parents' anxiety, but in the long run, the real opportunity in the education industry lies in helping children develop the ability to think independently and solve problems on their own.