Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China, has been building itself into a child-friendly city since the Friendly Cities Initiative was written into the country's Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan in 2021.
In Hohhot's Saihan District Experimental Kindergarten, all facilities are built based on a “one-meter-high viewing angle,” which is the angle of kids.
In addition, the school introduced innovative teaching modules that will be decided by students and teachers together, and have been inviting children to help distribute meal with carts and spoons that fit their size, and design their own safety signs, slogans, and mascots.
Outside the school, Hohhot also provides varied sites and venues for children to learn and play.
At the Laoniu children's discovery museum, children are welcomed to explore society and the world, while parents are also invited to learn how to guide and communicate with their kids.
"We are offering two leaflets, one for children and one for parents. We encourage parents to participate more to guide kids on how to play and experience. So, the discovery museum is not only to accompany kids to grow, but also expecting parents to learn," said Wang Kun, a teacher at the discovery museum.
These are all parts of the city's efforts to build a child-friendly city, and to better understand children's world and listen to their voices.
"We have established a mechanism that involves over 30 departments, aiming to make the city's decision-makers practice the child-friendly concept, and incorporate the concept into the daily work of all departments and all aspects of society. By upgrading medical and health care, education, children's rights protection services, and more, the government has been ensuring kids grow up in good health, confidence, and happiness," said Ider, director of the Hohhot Development and Reform Commission.
And this is only a part of the nation-wide endeavor to offer inclusive childcare service. And currently, China has over 100,000 childcare agencies, being able to enroll around 4.8 million children.
Hohhot builds child-friendly city with innovative learning spaces
