ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the central notion of family togetherness or the lack thereof. It argues that migrant parents in the city also bring useful information about the outside world and broaden their children’s view beyond the confine of the village. Children’s well-being is a key component of a family’s well-being and is essential to the country’s future. The book also focuses on questions about the well-being and developmental capacity of migrants’ children, and policies relevant to their situation. It demonstrates the significance of the issue of children of migrants to China and the prevalence of split families. The book lays out the macro and provincial statistical contours of the children of migrants from the beginning of the new century and provides the essential context for understanding this important issue.
