<p>This study investigates how women’s non-farm employment influences the quantity and quality of children in a rural context. Using a two-way fixed effects model and longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies, we find that the participation of non-farm employment by rural women causes a significant decrease in their actual number of children and has an adverse impact on children’s Chinese test grades. These results can be interpreted as a transition in fertility norms and a lack of caring and supervision for children: women’s non-farm employment is associated with a weakening of son preferences and traditional gender roles, and it also reduces the number of hours mothers spend caring for their children and the frequency of assignment checks. This insight offers valuable implications for policymakers seeking to harmonize female employment dynamics with demographic and educational policies in rural developing countries.</p>