China

My son lived in China for nearly a year. He said diapers are not used on the children. He said he offered a diaper to a professional colleague, a doctor, who declined his offer. In China, the diaper is considered to hold filth near the child, which is worse than letting a child defecate in the street or other public place. At the same time, a child sleeps with the parent until he is seven, and he is not diapered. The sleeping arrangements must be quite unimaginable.

If you read between the lines in this article, you can read the many changes in China.

Early childhood education course set
Fu Yingqing
2006-01-20 Beijing Time

PARENTS will be able to take a course on infant education. The new program will receive official approval next month. While the course provider is confident of the market potential, some educators said parents with busy schedules might not have time for the course, let alone be able to pay for it.

About 100 mothers finished a trial version of the program, said Zeng Qi, director of the training facility. Parents that pass an exam will receive certificates. "It's a different program from nanny training," said Zeng.

His facility at the vocational center of East China Normal University launched Shanghai's first professional nanny training center late last year. The center decided to launch a new course designed for young parents. Classes focus a lot on communication with babies. This includes how to recognize their needs and how your mood and behavior can affect a baby.

Zeng said early child education from ages one to three is the most crucial period in one's childhood. It usually takes 15 days to complete the program. It costs 100 yuan (US$12.40) per day. Dai Yuxia, mother of a 2-year-old girl, just completed the trial version last week. She said it taught her many things. "I always have thought early child education is essential for any family," said Dai. "My daughter has grasped the vocabulary equivalent to a four year old."

Some educators were not convinced of the program's benefits. Zhu Wei, manager of Shanghai Boni Housekeeping Services, said not all young parents can afford this program.

Guo Zongli, an early child educator, also worried about a lack of demand for such a course. "Of course early child education is essential, but I doubt parents will have time for the courses," said Guo. "Most have careers, plus the family needs sufficient income for the baby."

Guo said low cost day care services were available in several communities. Each family can get free professional assistance four times before the child reaches the age of three. Additional services cost just 8 yuan per visit, said Guo.