In the course of the large-scale migration to the cities of China�s rural labor force over the past twenty years, most migrant workers have left their children behind in their hometown, though some children do follow their parents to the city. The issue of the upbringing and education of these children, whether �left behind� or �migrating,� has always been a major concern of society and the academic world. This article aims to understand the factors affecting whether these children �stay behind� in their hometown or �flow� to the city through analysis of the child-rearing and education patterns reflected in survey information on over 3,000 migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta in 2006. We find that, after controlling for individual and family factors, regional differences in migrant workers� origins remains an important factor influencing whether children �stay behind� or �migrate.� The causes and mechanisms behind the existence of �regional barriers� is an issue worth further exploration. © 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All right reserved.

Family education pattern Left-behind children Migrant Children Education of migrant workers’ children

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