Shanghai expands day care centers to support working parents

In a bid to address the needs of local communities, especially children, Shanghai has significantly expanded its network of day care centers, providing vital support for working parents. The initiative, part of the city's fourth government open month celebrations, aims to enhance community engagement and governance through concrete measures that benefit residents.

Since the debut of the first day care center at the Jiang Ning Road subdistrict in March 2022, Shanghai has established a total of 260 day care centers across the city, according to the Shanghai municipal government. This move represents a substantial effort to address the pressing challenges faced by working parents, offering essential services for both pre-kindergarten children and school-age kids during the summer vacation period.

Tang Tingting, an official from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission's Childcare Department, highlighted the significant progress made in expanding day care services. With 220 day care centers now operational citywide, subdistricts experiencing higher demands have seen the establishment of three to five centers, while others have at least one, ensuring broader access to these essential facilities.

Beneficiaries such as Han, a retired woman who accompanies her grandchild to the day care center at the Jiang Ning Road subdistrict, have witnessed the positive impact of these centers firsthand. Han shared how the convenience of the center's location and the nurturing environment provided by the teachers have positively influenced her grandchild's social development. "He was reluctant to interact with people before, but now with the teacher's help at the center, he has become willing to interact with others," Han said.

For school-age children, the Jiang Ning Road subdistrict offers day care classes during the summer vacation, supported by dedicated volunteers. Yang Guang, the deputy secretary of the Youth League Committee of Jing'an District, emphasized the importance of these classes in assisting working parents. The district government has allocated 1,077 day care classes featuring a range of activities, including intangible cultural heritage workshops and coding sessions, at various locations. These classes, offered at cost price, are provided free of charge to children from disadvantaged families, ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities.

Gu Yingjie contributed to this story.