Chinese American Mom Reflects on Raising Daughter in LA vs. China

A 2-month trip to China made Grace Cong Sui question the best place to educate her 3-year-old.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:14am

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Grace Cong Sui, a first-generation Chinese American living in Los Angeles, took her 3-year-old daughter to China for a 2-month stay. While there, she enrolled her daughter in a local preschool and was surprised by the stark differences in the education system compared to the US, including constant communication from teachers, close monitoring of meals, and limited screen time. Sui found herself questioning whether China or the US would provide the better early education for her child.

Why it matters

As a first-generation Chinese American, Sui's experience highlights the complex cultural and educational considerations immigrant parents face when deciding where to raise their children. Her story touches on broader debates around the merits of different educational approaches, as well as the challenges of balancing cultural identities for families straddling two countries.

The details

During her daughter's 2-month stay at a preschool in Qingdao, China, Sui received daily updates from teachers including photos, details about her daughter's meals, naps, and mood - a level of insight she never got at the LA preschool. The Chinese school also had strict rules around screen time and incorporated hands-on activities like feeding animals on a campus farm. In contrast, Sui's daughter's LA preschool allowed more TV time and had a larger outdoor play area. These differences made Sui question which education system would be better for her child's early development.

  • In winter 2026, Sui returned to her hometown of Qingdao, China for the first time in 10 years to celebrate Lunar New Year with family.
  • Sui enrolled her 3-year-old daughter in a local preschool during their 2-month stay in China.

The players

Grace Cong Sui

A first-generation Chinese American living in Los Angeles who took her 3-year-old daughter to China for a 2-month trip, during which she enrolled her in a local preschool.

Oli

Sui's 3-year-old daughter who attended preschool in both Los Angeles and Qingdao, China.

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What they’re saying

“Don't worry, just leave quickly, and we'll take care of her.”

— Preschool Teacher

“Hi, Oli's mom, she's doing great today. She started eating vegetables at lunch and had some milk in the afternoon.”

— Preschool Teacher

What’s next

Sui continues to weigh the pros and cons of raising her daughter in Los Angeles versus China, considering the different educational approaches and cultural experiences each location would provide.

The takeaway

Sui's experience highlights the complex decisions immigrant parents face when choosing where to raise their children, balancing educational, cultural, and personal factors. Her story underscores the significant differences in early childhood education systems between the US and China, and the impact those differences can have on a child's development.