ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Left-behind children in China

Alright kiddo, so you know how sometimes parents have to go away for work or other reasons, right? Well, in China, sometimes parents have to go away to work in faraway cities or even other countries for a long time. And when they do, they have to leave their children behind with relatives or alone in their hometown.

When children are left by their parents for long periods of time, they are called "left-behind children." These kids can be really sad and lonely without their parents around to take care of them. They might miss their mom or dad so much that they feel very unhappy and alone.

Sometimes left-behind children have to take care of themselves, like cooking and cleaning for themselves, and they might not have enough money for food and clothing. They might also miss out on things that other kids do, like going to school regularly because they have to work or take care of their younger siblings.

It's important to remember that being a left-behind child is not their fault, and it can be a really difficult and sad experience. But there are organizations in China and other countries that work to help these children and make sure they get the support they need to grow up healthy and happy.