SHENZHEN is a young city, with residents averaging 32.5 years old. To help eligible families turn “wanting to have a baby” into “daring to have one,” Shenzhen is shifting its childcare support from a long-running family-based effort to a more systematic approach — one built on government support, social participation, and professional services.

Today, a growing “15-minute childcare circle” is accelerating across the city, aiming to cover children during their most crucial first 1,000 days. The goal is simple: Make reliable childcare accessible near home and reduce the barriers that many parents face.

So far, Shenzhen has established 109,000 childcare spots, reaching 5.9 places per 1,000 people. (SD News)