To promote children's healthy growth, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Office of the National Working Committee on Children and Women (NWCCW) recently promulgated the (Trial) Guidelines for the Construction of Child-Friendly Spaces. In addition to outlining the basic principles and major objectives (of promoting construction of the spaces), the guidelines formulate measures to improve children-related public services, to create a favorable environment to foster children's healthy growth and development, and to promote the construction of child-friendly spaces (an environment designed to help children feel safe, calm, and comfortable).

In accordance with the guidelines, a community should prioritize the allocation of service facilities, playgrounds and walking paths that meet the daily needs of infants and preschool children. The guidelines stipulate the construction area of a kindergarten should not be less than 2,200 square meters. The guidelines also stipulate kindergartens should build more environmentally friendly playgrounds for children.

In addition, the guidelines stipulate a community should prioritize the renovation of various public-service facilities (including those used for education, medical and health care, child welfare, reading, sports, exhibitions and artistic performances), to better suit children's needs.

(Women of China English Monthly January 2023 issue)