Episode Summary
Liu Guobao's phone addiction is solved by his parents using the phone's algorithm to show him anti-phone content. He then develops body image issues after being called fat, leading to a diet and health anxieties about his chin, which are resolved by a doctor's visit. Meanwhile, other parents in their circle deal with their own children's health concerns.
Spoiler Alert
Growing Together S2, Ep. 13: Kids and Their Screens
This episode dives right into some very modern parenting headaches. We are talking phone addiction, body image issues, and the nightmare of Dr. Google. It’s a lot for one family to handle.
The Smartphone Problem
It starts with Liu Guobao, who is completely glued to his phone. He even drops it in the sink while washing his hands. The phone goes dark, and his mom, Dai Jing, loses it. She bans him from using a phone ever again. Guobao just thinks his mom is being harsh.
His dad, Liu Xiangshang, has a different idea. He suggests Dai Jing try being a "wise" mom instead of an angry one. So, Liu Xiangshang fixes the phone and gives it back to Guobao. But here's the clever part. Dai Jing starts using the phone's own algorithm against him. She makes sure his feed is flooded with videos about the dangers of too much screen time. The scare tactics work, and Guobao gets freaked out.
The school gets involved, too. Teacher Wang dedicates a whole class to the topic. She even offers a prize of ten "little red flowers"—a common school reward—to any student who can stay off their phone for a month. Guobao is totally on board. To help him out, his dad starts building a puzzle. Guobao sees how interesting it is and decides to join in, successfully distracted from his phone.
A Whole New Set of Worries
Just when the phone issue seems solved, new problems pop up. First, we learn Liu Guobao's sibling, Liu Guoning, got caught copying homework from a classmate. When Teacher Li shows up for a home visit, Liu Xiangshang and Dai Jing are furious. They give Guoning a joint punishment from both of them.
Then the focus shifts back to Liu Guobao, and we learn she's a girl who is very conscious of her appearance. A boy in her class calls her fat, and she immediately starts a diet. She stops eating properly at home and skips lunch at school, choosing to drink water to feel full. Her parents, Dai Jing and Liu Xiangshang, are obviously worried. Eventually, Teacher Wang finds her drinking water in the hallway and gently convinces her to stop the diet for now.
Dr. Google and the Dentist
Guobao's anxiety doesn't stop there. After doing some online searching, she becomes convinced she has a receded chin. She panics and begs her mom to take her to a doctor. Dai Jing looks up the same information online and gets worried herself. They go to a local hospital, where a doctor tells them everything is fine. But Guobao isn't satisfied and insists on seeing a specialist at a bigger hospital.
Around the same time, Dai Jing's friend, Tang Xiaowei, comes over. She's worried because her nine-year-old son, Ma Ziheng, still has some of his baby teeth. They realize that another student's father, Gao Yuxuan's dad, is a dentist. So, they all head to his hospital.
Dr. Gao assures them that both kids are fine. He explains that it's common for baby teeth to fall out late and that he can pull them if the parents are really concerned. He also checks Guobao's chin and says there's no issue. He tells them if she still thinks it's a problem after she turns 12, they can come back for another look.
The episode also briefly checks in on another family. Tingting has become anxious about gaining weight and starts a diet. She pushes herself too hard and faints at home. Her father, Lao Yang, rushes back from work to take care of her. He comforts her and tells her to prioritize her health, and this time, she listens.
