I am sometimes envious of Chinese children today because of the care that society provides them. Since birth, they can get a national subsidy of 300 yuan ($43.44) every month until they are three years old. Subsidies from local governments can double that amount. It is not a large sum, but enough to ensure that no child goes hungry — a basic guarantee that was far from assured in the old days.
Healthcare support is equally notable. Children have access to a range of free vaccinations, and for a few hundred yuan every year, they get covered under medical insurance. Everyday life also carries small but meaningful privileges: free bus rides before they reach a certain age or height, discounts on air and train tickets, free or discounted entries into parks and tourist places, and even complimentary meals in some restaurants when accompanied by adults.
In my childhood 50 years ago, the only privilege children enjoyed was a one-day free bus ride on International Children’s Day celebrated on June 1 in China. Unfortunately, the buses were so overcrowded that only a few could manage to board one. It was an era when almost all daily supplies were rationed. Teenagers, despite their ravenous appetite, often got less food compared to working adults. As a result, hunger was a constant companion during our childhood.
My envy is not only because of the benefits that children enjoy today but also because of what they will receive in the future. A document issued by the central authorities earlier this year pledged to turn China into a child-friendly society. The vision is to provide better living and recreational conditions and improved services to ensure that the country’s children grow up in a healthy environment and their rights are fully protected.
This is not an entirely new effort. Even before the document was issued, pilot programs had already been conducted in 116 cities. The document marks a decisive policy shift from experimentation to nationwide implementation so that our children grow up in a friendly environment.
Under the central authorities’ guidance, local governments are being encouraged to enact laws and regulations that prioritize children’s needs in the design of public facilities. This is important to fill the noticeable gap in such services. Across the country, there is fitness equipment installed in almost all residential compounds and villages, thanks to government investment and charity donations. But these facilities are mostly for adults. There are very few facilities for children who often have to pay for playing in entertainment centers.
This imbalance needs to be corrected. While more child-oriented free recreational facilities should be built, public primary schools and kindergartens should be required to open their facilities to children during weekends, holidays and vacations. Governments can consider subsidizing the operational costs of the facility providers.
Education for pre-school age children should also be included in the country’s compulsory education system. This will not only help children grow up in a healthy environment but also ease the burden on young parents. For many young working couples, the financial burden and logistical difficulties of raising pre-school children are a major deterrent to having more children. Addressing these concerns could contribute meaningfully to reversing the country’s declining birth rate.
Tourist attractions and public transport systems also need to readjust their regulations for children. Right now, children under the age of 10 or 12 and less than 1.2 meters in height are allowed free entry. But that height threshold was set decades ago when children used to be much shorter due to malnutrition. Now, the average height of children aged 10 years old is well over 1.3 meters. The result is frequent disputes between parents and administrators at entrances, ticket counters and boarding points.
It is high time the old regulations were readjusted to make them more lenient and friendly toward children. In fact, many tourist venues have raised the bar on age and height, knowing that free entrance for children quite often brings their parents and grandparents along.
A lot remains to be done to make our society truly friendly to children. I have no doubt that local governments are busy working on such policies. As China moves toward that vision, it is worth remembering the millions of children in rural areas. Many of them are left behind with grandparents when their parents move to work in cities. Only when these vulnerable children also get the benefits enjoyed by their urban counterparts can we call ourselves a child-friendly society.
The author is former deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily.
kangbing@chinadaily.com.cn
