Shanghai parents seek more govt-run child care centers

Parents of toddlers in Shanghai urged the government to extend service hours and establish more government-run child care facilities during a recent roundtable discussion.

The event was organized in Shanghai's Jiading district by a number of institutions, including the district's social work department and education bureau, in late September. Several residents who participated said that the current number of such facilities remains insufficient.

Shanghai released a document in late 2022, requiring government-run baobaowu, or babies' playgrounds, to be set up in each of its subdistricts and provide hourly-based care for families with children between 1 and 3 years old.

Such facilities are meant to give parents a place to send their toddlers when they have urgent matters to attend to, as well as give the toddlers an opportunity to interact with other children.

The city currently has more than 260 government-run child care facilities.

To send their children, parents need to make reservations via Suishenban, the Shanghai government's one-stop government affairs service app.

Each child can receive 12 hours of care for free per year, after which parents will be charged hourly, with 100 yuan ($14) per hour set as the maximum cost.

In Jiading town of Jiading district, an area of 40 square meters in the community life service center, a public facility, was transformed into a baobaowu. Shelves with picture books, children's slides, toys and sports equipment are provided there.

"However, the area is only open for two hours on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, and entrance is based upon reservations, which are filled very often," said Yao Haifeng, mother of a 2-year-old toddler.

It's a situation that is common across many parts of the city.

In some districts — Changning, for example — such facilities are only open for two hours on Tuesday morning, and are available for only an hour for each child.

"Such a one-hour center makes it hard for us to make a round trip if we need to see a doctor or go to the bank," said Yu Ying, grandmother and one of the key caregivers of a 2-year-old boy.

"Also, we hope that such services can be available on the weekend as well," said Yu, 65.

Tang Tingting, an inspector with the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, told Shanghai Radio Station that it required more such facilities to be added, especially in subdistricts where demand is high.

Some parents also said they hoped that such facilities can establish a unified standard.

"We see that the current services at different facilities vary. At some facilities, there are teachers who provide standard activities, including singing, games and sports. And at some others, it is not compulsory for teachers to spend time with the students," said Wu Xiaoyu, a mother of a 2-year-old girl in the city.

Some baobaowu, including the six located within kindergartens, community public facilities, residential compounds and industrial parks in Jing'an district's Jiangning Road subdistrict, are appreciated by young parents.

For example, one such facility was added to the subdistrict's elderly care center, and includes an area of 100 sq m indoors and 60 sq m outdoors. It can accommodate a maximum of 45 children at one time. Service is provided by a third-party firm but is guided by local demonstration kindergartens that train teachers and help ensure the center offers a suitable child care environment.

In Yangpu district, one facility has introduced a curriculum that includes early education classes, such as picture book reading, fun finger exercises and games. Services have been offered on work days every week since August last year.