Public welfare early education brought to the doorstep; inclusive childcare eases the difficulty of raising children

Not only "affordable" but also "good quality"

Small childcare, big livelihood. At this year's National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, many deputies and members suggested vigorously developing inclusive childcare services to ease the reproductive pressure on young people. A few days ago, the Beijing Family Planning Association announced the first batch of inclusive childcare institutions. From full-day care and temporary care to parent-child activities and early education courses... many subdistricts are also exploring ways to bring quality and affordable childcare and early education services to residents' doorsteps, lightening parents' child-rearing burden.

Affordable

Prices plunge, but quality does not shrink

At around 3 p.m., bursts of laughter came from the Yiying Baby Home International Children's Growth Center on the second floor of Shengjing International Plaza. In a classroom covered with colorful floor mats, eight babies over one year old, accompanied by six teachers, tried to shape different forms out of ultra-light clay. In the movement classroom next door, a teacher sang nursery rhymes while guiding six older toddlers over two years old to do somersaults, swing on swings, and spin like tops.

"Sending a child here for childcare is almost like signing up for a full set of early education, plus there's a swimming class every week." Since there were no elderly family members to help look after the child, Xixi's mother sent her child, then just over one year old, here last year.

After enrollment, Xixi's mother was delighted by the changes in her child. "Self-care ability is much better than that of children the same age, and the personality is much livelier too." However, the initial price of 8,000 yuan per month still made her feel the strain. "Fortunately, this place converted to inclusive childcare this year, and the price dropped all at once to 3,300 yuan per month, saving more than half, and the quality hasn't shrunk at all."

According to director Li Haizhen, applying to convert into an inclusive childcare institution requires passing multiple rounds of strict review, with comprehensive assessment of hardware facilities, teacher standards, file management, and other aspects. Once standards are met, the institution can enjoy certain rent reductions and childcare slot subsidies based on actual enrollment.

"Since converting to an inclusive childcare institution, the volume of childcare inquiries has increased significantly, with as many as twenty or thirty in a single day at peak times, and the phone almost never stops ringing." Li Haizhen has noticed that many parents' child-rearing philosophies are also changing. "More and more parents of younger babies are starting to inquire; some children are only seven or eight months old, and their parents are already considering sending them to childcare."

In Li Haizhen's view, inclusive childcare institutions must not only make childcare "affordable" but also "good quality." "As a childcare institution integrating 'medical care and education,' we have full-time nurses who are more professional in nurturing care and infectious disease prevention." Li Haizhen said the institution also cooperates with the Shijingshan District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, and medical staff regularly provide children with comprehensive child health services such as oral health care, visual function examinations, and growth and development checks, as well as targeted parenting guidance.

"There was a baby who came at 14 months and could not yet walk well, lagging behind in gross motor skills. After assessment, a developmental delay was found." Li Haizhen said the institution tailored a personalized childcare plan for the child based on her situation, with a sensory integration teacher taking the child to practice in the movement classroom.

In daily care, Li Haizhen also attaches great importance to maintaining communication with parents. "At home, some elderly family members dote on the child too much, still making food for a child over two years old extremely soft and finely chopped, which is actually detrimental to the development of the child's oral muscles and further affects language development. We promptly remind parents to work together to help the child exercise chewing ability."

Convenient

Set up at the doorstep, childcare is more flexible

"What is this little friend on the cover doing? Right, picking apples. Who is holding the little friend to pick apples? Right, it's Daddy!" On Saturday morning, warm sunshine streamed into the Yongguang Community activity room on the first floor of Building 3 of Fuzhuo Garden, where five babies aged one or two were listening to Teacher Tangtang read a picture book.

"During the week, this place is used for Party building activities and cultural and sports activities, and on weekends it serves as temporary childcare. If parents have errands to run and need to go out, they can send their children here." A staff member of the Chunshu Subdistrict told the reporter that the Yongguang Community Childcare Center is the subdistrict's first community childcare point. "It just opened recently, so on weekends we first invite parents to bring their children to some parent-child activities, letting the children get used to the environment and meet the teachers."

Magical shadow puppetry, New Year concerts, fun maraca dances... Previously, the Chunshu Subdistrict also held multiple parent-child activities for infants and toddlers aged 0 to 3 in its jurisdiction, thereby understanding residents' childcare needs and letting more families experience childcare services at their doorstep.

Dudu, two years and two months old, is a regular at the parent-child activities and attends almost every time. Xiaoxiao's mother also brought her one-and-a-half-year-old child to try it out. "This is my third child, and I really want to find a place that can provide childcare. I don't feel at ease with outside institutions; it's better to have one run by the subdistrict."

Teacher Tangtang took out drawing paper and paint and distributed them to each family. "Look, there are branches on this, but aren't there still no leaves or apples? Today we invite the children to draw together with Teacher Tangtang, okay?"

"Some parents worry that paint will get on their children's hands and stop them from trying things, but these attempts are very helpful for children's growth and development." As the head of the third-party operating institution, Teacher Jingjing observed quietly from the side. "Through childcare and parent-child activities, we hope to pass on more scientific parenting concepts to parents."

How can the activity room meet childcare needs? The Chunshu Subdistrict carried out a series of child-friendly hardware renovations in the early stage, replacing the original concrete floor with environmentally friendly wooden flooring and setting aside a separate room as a health room and nursing room. In the restroom, a mini sink suited to children's height was specially added, along with a towel and cup rack beside it.

A staff member of the Chunshu Subdistrict told the reporter that when selecting third-party institutions, the subdistrict also made extensive inquiries, invited professionals to conduct comprehensive evaluations, and confirmed the other party's qualifications, philosophy, and mature cases they had handled elsewhere. "We are preparing to open weekday childcare on Hongxian Hutong. That place is a courtyard house, about 250 square meters including the yard, and can be divided into multiple functional areas, with different classes set up according to children's ages. We also plan to use one room for parent-child classes."

Rich

Abundant early education services, focusing on three generations

In addition to childcare, some subdistricts are also trying to provide public welfare early education services for residents in their jurisdiction.

On the third floor of the Caishikou Life Shopping Plaza, the Niujie Subdistrict Early Childhood Development Guidance Center attracts many nearby parents who bring their children to classes.

Yuanyuan, almost 3 years old, is a veteran student here and has been coming to play since she was just over 9 months old. Before signing up, Yuanyuan's mother had also considered other early education institutions but was deterred by the high prices. "Outside, a class costs two or three hundred yuan, but this place is more affordable, only a few dozen yuan, all small class packages, and very stable, so we feel at ease."

According to the relevant person in charge of the Niujie Subdistrict, the guidance center is a community family parenting guidance platform hosted by the Niujie Subdistrict and operated by the professional team of the Beijing Happiness Spring Children's Development Promotion Center, and has been established for 10 years. The nearly 400-square-meter guidance center is divided into multiple spaces such as the Creative Thinking Laboratory, Dream Art Island, and Growth Sports Hall, and offers different courses such as the Happy Candy Course and Creative Fun Course. On festivals, free themed activities are also held.

"The Happy Candy Course has multiple segments, including gross motor activities and fine hand movement training. Under the teacher's guidance, the child's concentration and comprehension have improved significantly." Yuanyuan's mother found that her child also likes the Creative Fun Course very much. "Every time she brings home her own work, she feels a great sense of achievement and after class makes videos with her grandparents to show it off."

The guidance center has undergone two relocations and upgrades. As the space expanded and programs increased, the scope and level of services have also continuously extended and innovated. "A major highlight after the upgrade is the 'three generations' family co-parenting guidance project." said Xu Ning, head of the center. The guidance center has evolved from initially focusing mainly on serving individual children, to paying attention to family growth companionship for children and parents, and then to cultivating parenting concepts, striving to pass on a new-era "child-rearing guide" to elders and provide personalized parenting guidance plans, thereby achieving high-quality companionship among family members and promoting children's physical and mental health development.