In fact, most people in China do some type of work outside the home. One young mother of a three-year old girl informed me that her mother cares for the child during the day. Dissimilar to the U.S., it is much more common for the extended family to care for each other. There are not many daycares or nursing homes in China. The mothers and grandmothers are most often responsible for helping the children get prepared for school.
Breakfast consists of plain white rice or sometimes noodles and hot broth or hot tea.
Self-preparation begins shortly afterwards the children are prepared. Typically, the attire consists of simple flat shoes, ankle-high nylons, pants or skirt and light blouse. Their transportation is most likely a bicycle. Those that live farther out from the city proper, might ride their bike from their apartment to a bus or to catch the subway in Beijing, for instance. I was told by one young woman working in a factory that she rides one-hour each way, to and from work.