Life of the 'left behind' children in China

Adults across rural China are leaving in droves as they seek jobs in more developed regions. As they pack up their things, they're leaving one thing behind: their children. These kids are now known as the "left behind children."

Millions of children across China are part of this parentless generation. A recent government report stated that an estimated 10 million children are believed to be without their parents. Child welfare experts disagree with this figure, though, and set the number closer to 60 million. At this time there aren't any official numbers to properly document the widespread issue.

Many of these children go to live with their grandparents. If their extended family is already struggling to feed their household, adding more mouths to the mix can cause strife.

While a booming economy is great for China, it spells trouble for its youth. Schools and charities try to fill the parentless void but a dark cloud still hovers over these developing young minds. Experts worry that they are creating a generation of loneliness as they see growing anxiety, poor grades and depression on the rise. Yang Yanjie of Harbin Medical University says that at least 50 percent of left behind's will struggle with these issues unlike the 30 percent of China's urban children. China daily reports that 4 percent of the children received one phone call from departed parents in the past year.

The solution isn't as easy as one would assume. Children are usually unable to accompany their parents to their new home. China's documentation system states that a child can only receive health care and schooling in the area where they were born and registered.

China's government is currently working to assess and improve the lives of these children. A national census has been launched as they begin to deep dive into the country-wide issue.