How Preschool Education Surmount 'Demographic Cliff'? A Systematic Policies Analysis of China
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| Title: | How Preschool Education Surmount 'Demographic Cliff'? A Systematic Policies Analysis of China |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Shi Ying Wang, Fan Shuai Bu, Xin Xue Zhu, Fang Wang, Ruo Xi Teng, Hang Zhou, Gen Jian Zhang, Ming Yu Zhang, Ming Yu Li, Zhong Han |
| Source: | International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy. 2026 20. |
| Availability: | Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 21 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Information Analyses Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Early Childhood Education Preschool Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Population Trends, Population Education, Birth Rate, Educational Policy, Preschool Education, Policy Analysis, Economic Factors, Role of Education |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s40723-025-00163-0 |
| ISSN: | 1976-5681 2288-6729 |
| Abstract: | Unlike the immigration policies in regions such as Europe and the United States and the economic subsidy policies in countries like Japan and South Korea aimed at stimulating population growth, China emphasizes integrating education and population development. This approach considers population issues from an educational perspective, significantly enhancing the fertility motivation of the school-age population while improving the quality and equity of education. In response to the current low fertility rate, the Chinese government has introduced a series of preschool education policies since 2015 to promote rational demographic development. Since 2015, the Chinese government has introduced a series of preschool education policies aimed at promoting a balanced population structure. These policies can serve as a reference for other countries facing similar challenges. This study explores how to address demographic issues through preschool education to boost fertility intentions. It begins with an examination of the challenges associated with China's persistently low fertility rate and the implementation of proactive reproductive policies. Using NVivo12, a systematic qualitative analysis of policy texts from various levels of Chinese government is conducted. The study identifies how preschool education can enhance fertility intentions in China amidst the global trend of declining fertility rates and aims to offer Chinese proposals for formulating policies and measures to address low fertility rates worldwide. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1504890 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Url: https://content.ebscohost.com/cds/retrieve?content=AQICAHj0k_4E0hTGH8RJwT4gCJyBsGNe_WN95AvKlDbXJGqwxwFZcESCXGkk5Q4Ch51ZVlkNAAAA4zCB4AYJKoZIhvcNAQcGoIHSMIHPAgEAMIHJBgkqhkiG9w0BBwEwHgYJYIZIAWUDBAEuMBEEDO4-7E06_XzK6CbwqgIBEICBm7E2nWyhEDLSe2X6EbLKinQyv0Z2tBVo1EEWqre_ShWjc24nWagFL32R3AUnxZX3UT5C8nkDPjzM-laCJU_zmGbAH2quwK3lHDR8hWazQPZm0eg14jvk7HOfcN05tlAUWNt7lxtgSYtpLml-oLzn_kI-k-BJ5HtlnLhsDBCkROrJPSEgKbQi_Za0ALHNIt7q1DRzo__C6Jq2Lf19 Text: Availability: 1 Value: <anid>AN0191207137;[ds0u]28jan.26;2026Feb02.06:27;v2.2.500</anid> <title id="AN0191207137-1">How preschool education surmount 'demographic cliff'? A systematic policies analysis of China </title> <sbt id="AN0191207137-2">Introduction</sbt> <p>Population is both a social and educational issue. Low fertility rates present a common challenge worldwide in the twenty-first century, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, including China, where persistent birth deficits profoundly impact all aspects of society. Despite national and regional variations, many countries have prioritized addressing low fertility and have actively implemented policies to tackle challenges such as slowing population growth and demographic imbalances. Population issues are influenced by various factors, including economic conditions, cultural traditions, and social environments. In industrial societies, as education penetrates the public sphere, the relationship between population and education has become increasingly intertwined. Elements such as the size, quality, structure, mobility, and development of the population are all closely related to education (Peng, [<reflink idref="bib37" id="ref1">37</reflink>]). Compared to other non-educational population stimulation policies, education minimizes negative knock-on effect (Huang &amp; Tan, [<reflink idref="bib17" id="ref2">17</reflink>]). Governments have increasingly emphasized education as a crucial path to addressing the demographic crisis and safeguarding the nation's human capital (Chen, [<reflink idref="bib5" id="ref3">5</reflink>]).</p> <p>As the earliest stage of education affected by demographic changes, the population size and structure of China's preschool student population show the characteristics of 'the number of kindergartens and the number of students are both going down' (Liang et al., [<reflink idref="bib29" id="ref4">29</reflink>]). This trend presents a challenge in optimizing preschool education resources and achieving balanced, high-quality development. To address the demographic crisis, preschool education must play a proactive role, beyond merely adjusting fertility policies. Within fertility economics, traditional models focus on the quantity-quality trade-off and the opportunity costs of women's labor force participation, while emerging approaches underscore the significance of family policies and public childcare. From this latter perspective, the provision of childcare services is regarded as a key mechanism for lowering childrearing costs and enhancing fertility (Doepke et al., [<reflink idref="bib9" id="ref5">9</reflink>]; Huang et al., [<reflink idref="bib18" id="ref6">18</reflink>]). Thus, As an integral part of the national education system and public services, preschool education lays the foundation for lifelong learning. Building a high-quality preschool education system is crucial for encouraging higher fertility rate and stabilizing the population size (Min et al., [<reflink idref="bib33" id="ref7">33</reflink>]). The social issues arising from low fertility rate require effective measures in preschool education to ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the population's size, structure, and quality.</p> <p>Currently, many developed and some developing countries have studied and implemented overeducation policies to address the demographic crisis (Clément, [<reflink idref="bib8" id="ref8">8</reflink>]; Eckhardt &amp; Egert, [<reflink idref="bib11" id="ref9">11</reflink>]; Fokkema et al., [<reflink idref="bib13" id="ref10">13</reflink>]; Jiang &amp; Wang, [<reflink idref="bib20" id="ref11">20</reflink>]; Lee, [<reflink idref="bib25" id="ref12">25</reflink>]; Nuttall et al., [<reflink idref="bib35" id="ref13">35</reflink>]; West, [<reflink idref="bib58" id="ref14">58</reflink>]). For example, Chen and Bradbury have demonstrated the significance of providing free childcare of varying durations in the UK, based on children's ages and parental income levels (Chen &amp; Bradbury, [<reflink idref="bib6" id="ref15">6</reflink>]). Through empirical research, Jeong examined the relationship between fertility rate and pro-natalist policies, and proposed that South Korea should introduce more impactful and better-targeted long-term policies (Jeong et al., [<reflink idref="bib19" id="ref16">19</reflink>]). Additionally, with the introduction of these measures, research has increasingly focused on the relationship between preschool education and population dynamics (Hong et al., [<reflink idref="bib16" id="ref17">16</reflink>]; Yu, [<reflink idref="bib62" id="ref18">62</reflink>]), and Bergsvik et al. concluded through empirical analysis that expanding early childcare can effectively increase national fertility rate, thereby closely linking population solutions with preschool education development (Bergsvik et al., [<reflink idref="bib3" id="ref19">3</reflink>]). Studies have shown that while preschool education positively influences low fertility rates (Kuroki, [<reflink idref="bib24" id="ref20">24</reflink>]), its implementation has not yet met expectations. Although many researchers have proposed solutions from diverse perspectives, systematic research on policies and measures related to China—a populous country on the brink of the low fertility trap—remains underexplored.</p> <p>Unlike the immigration policies in regions such as Europe and the United States (Liu, [<reflink idref="bib30" id="ref21">30</reflink>]) and the economic subsidy policies in countries like Japan and South Korea (Ma &amp; Chen, [<reflink idref="bib32" id="ref22">32</reflink>]) aimed at stimulating population growth, China emphasizes integrating education and population development. This approach considers population issues from an educational perspective, significantly enhancing the fertility motivation of the school-age population while improving the quality and equity of education.In response to the current low fertility rate, the Chinese government has introduced a series of preschool education policies since 2015 to promote rational demographic development. Since 2015, the Chinese government has introduced a series of preschool education policies aimed at promoting a balanced population structure. For instance, the 2021 decision by the State Council of China, Decision on Improving Birth Policies to Promote Long-term Balanced Population Development, emphasized reducing educational costs and mitigating the decline in the total fertility rate by continuously expanding the coverage of affordable kindergartens, appropriately extending childcare hours, and offering custodial services, thereby fostering a moderate fertility level. These policies can serve as a reference for other countries facing similar challenges. This study explores how to address demographic issues through preschool education to boost fertility intentions. It begins with an examination of the challenges associated with China's persistently low fertility rate and the implementation of proactive reproductive policies. Using NVivo12, a systematic qualitative analysis of policy texts from various levels of Chinese government is conducted. The study identifies how preschool education can enhance fertility intentions in China amidst the global trend of declining fertility rates and aims to offer Chinese proposals for formulating policies and measures to address low fertility rates worldwide.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-3">Characteristics and implications of population development in China</hd> <p>The Chinese government has implemented various childbearing policies, starting with the 'selective two-child policy' in 2013 (Xu et al., [<reflink idref="bib60" id="ref23">60</reflink>]), followed by the 'universal two-child policy '(Zeng &amp; Hesketh, [<reflink idref="bib64" id="ref24">64</reflink>]), and most recently, the 'three-child policy '(Tatum, [<reflink idref="bib54" id="ref25">54</reflink>]). These policies aim to prepare for demographic reforms and promote sustainable population growth. In 2016, influenced by the ' universal two-child policy', China experienced a brief peak in fertility rates, which then sharply declined due to the pandemic and reduced fertility intentions among childbearing-aged populations. China's total fertility rate was 1.06 in 2022 and is expected to be around 1.0 in 2023, both well below the critical 1.5 threshold (Ren et al., [<reflink idref="bib42" id="ref26">42</reflink>]). This places China among the lowest fertility rates of major global economies(<emph>Report on Demographic Changes and Countermeasures for the Development of Preschool</emph> Education (2024), 2024). Consequently, China is transitioning from a demographic dividend to a demographic burden, facing challenges related to an aging population before achieving widespread prosperity.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-4">Characteristics, causes and social impacts of china's population</hd> <p>Ultra-low fertility rate have become the norm. In the latter half of the twentieth century, China experienced three baby booms, with an average annual fertility rate exceeding 20 million (Zheng, [<reflink idref="bib68" id="ref27">68</reflink>]). However, by the final five years of the century, the average annual fertility rate had declined to about 19.88 million and further decreased to approximately 16 million over the next 15 years. Despite positive changes in population policies and fertility measures since 2013, this overall declining trend has not been fundamentally reversed (Wang, [<reflink idref="bib55" id="ref28">55</reflink>]). Data show that China's total population peaked at 1.413 billion in 2021. By 2022, population growth had turned negative, with a decrease of 850,000 people compared to the previous year. In 2023, the population fell by an additional 2.08 million. This consecutive decline in total population and the increase in the elderly population represent a significant shift in China's population dynamics, making the low fertility rate a short-term challenge (<emph>Report on Demographic Changes and Countermeasures for the Development of Preschool</emph> Education (2024), 2024). The 'baby boom' has ended, and no new wave has emerged. Urbanization in China has accelerated, with increased population mobility. As economic development and urbanization continue, more people are migrating from rural areas to cities. According to China's seventh population census, the urbanization rate reached 63.89% in 2020, and by 2023, the urban population constituted 66.16% of the total. By 2040, it is projected that the urbanization rate will reach approximately 78.6%, equating to an urban population of 1.05 billion. Additionally, China is transitioning from a 'native China' to a 'migratory China' due to economic growth and improved transportation (Song et al., [<reflink idref="bib48" id="ref29">48</reflink>]). The mobile population expanded to nearly 380 million in 2020, marking a 69.7% increase since 2010, and grew by 2.4% year-on-year in 2021 (Ren et al., [<reflink idref="bib42" id="ref30">42</reflink>]). Given the large and active migrant population, ensuring access to educational opportunities and encouraging their willingness to have children is crucial for boosting national fertility levels (Yuan &amp; Ding, [<reflink idref="bib63" id="ref31">63</reflink>]).</p> <p>The natural growth of the population is closely linked to fertility rate and the degree of aging. China's persistently low fertility rate is influenced by declining fertility intentions, insufficient government support, and high education costs. First, endogenous factors play a key role in the decline of fertility intentions. With modernization, family childcare expenses have risen significantly, increasing economic pressure. Additionally, strong employment pressure and the demanding work environment in current Chinese society contribute to the decline in fertility intentions (Zhong et al., [<reflink idref="bib70" id="ref32">70</reflink>]). Second, negative perceptions of love and marriage among the marriage-age population also impact fertility (Liu &amp; Zhang, [<reflink idref="bib31" id="ref33">31</reflink>]). Furthermore, the government's insufficient follow-up systems, welfare protections, and economic incentives for population development policies, along with the inertia of existing population policies, have adversely affected societal fertility levels (Ren, [<reflink idref="bib40" id="ref34">40</reflink>]; Zhou &amp; Mao, [<reflink idref="bib71" id="ref35">71</reflink>]).</p> <p>The high cost of education has significantly constrained fertility levels in China. The promotion of eugenics and scientific parenting concepts has dramatically increased the economic burden of raising children, covering the entire process from birth to college (Zhai &amp; Li, [<reflink idref="bib65" id="ref36">65</reflink>]). For instance, the average cost of raising a child to college is approximately $93,840, with preschool education alone costing an average of $1,299 annually[<reflink idref="bib1" id="ref37">1</reflink>](<emph>Residents' Income and Consumption Expenditures in 2023</emph>, 2024; Wei et al., [<reflink idref="bib57" id="ref38">57</reflink>]). Additionally, education quality has become a significant public concern. People are increasingly focused on acquiring educational resources and developing abilities, leading to a growing demand for high-quality education. Furthermore, the pressure of exam-based education drives many families to engage in non-compulsory out-of-school education to secure educational resources. This trend affects the rational use of educational resources and creates a more competitive educational environment. Furthermore, Labor shortages are gradually constraining economic and social development in China. The declining fertility rate limits the cultivation and output of talents, and the aging population exacerbates this issue. Consequently, China faces significant challenges to its economic and social progress. Additionally, technological innovation during a period of negative population growth encounters several impacts and dilemmas. The deepening issues of childlessness and aging, combined with industrial structure adjustments, have increased pressure on the labor supply. This has resulted in a decreasing labor force, a shortage of skilled workers in enterprises and related fields, and a lack of talent for high-level positions. These factors contribute to the loss of the original impetus for economic development.</p> <p>Factors such as the decline in fertility intentions among people of childbearing age, increasing caution regarding birth plans, and the rising cost of childcare have become key influences on China's fertility levels. Education, being a significant factor, must address these declining fertility rates. Preschool education, as the initial step in addressing the demographic issue, needs to identify the current challenges and play a pivotal role in helping China navigate the 'demographic cliff'.</p> <p>Graph: Fig. 1 China's fertility rate and kindergarten enrollment for the period 2010–2023(China's fertility rate and kindergarten enrollment, 2024)</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-5">New challenges in preschool education arising from the current demographic situation in China</hd> <p>As China's fertility rate continues to decline, schools at all levels will increasingly face the challenge of student shortages, posing an existential crisis. Preschool education, as the initial stage of basic education, is particularly vulnerable to these declining fertility rate. The rapid decrease in newborns will profoundly impact China's children industry and preschool education sector. These new demographic trends pose specific challenges to preschool education development, including the scale of preschool facilities, resource allocation between urban and rural areas, availability of kindergarten slots, and the national demand for full-time preschool teachers. Figure 1.</p> <p>The total size of preschool education in China has significantly contracted. In 2010, the State Council introduced the 'National Medium- and Long-Term Education Reform and Development Plan (2010–2020)', highlighting a critical moment with a dedicated section on preschool education promoting public welfare and universal access. This initiative created opportunities for the development of preschool education. Influenced by the 'universal two-child policy' and subsequently the 'three-child policy', kindergarten enrollments peaked at 48,182,600 in 2020 (Fig. 1). However, by 2022 and 2023, this number sharply declined nationwide, with enrollments plummeting to 40,929,800 in 2023—a 15.05% decrease from 2020. Over the past decade, China's preschool education has transitioned through stages of scarcity, universalization, and surplus. With the continuous rapid decline in the fertility rate, current forecasts predict a steep decline in kindergarten enrollments after 2023.</p> <p>The layout of resources for preschool education in urban and rural areas will undergo significant transformation. Large-scale population migration has led to substantial changes in the size and distribution of children from the floating population, thereby impacting the urban-rural resource allocation for preschool education. Statistics indicate that in 2022, compared to 2021, the number of rural kindergartens decreased by 6,779, with rural kindergarten enrollments dropping to 7.96 million—a decrease of 3.4 million from the peak in 2017(<emph>Report on Demographic Changes and Countermeasures for the Development of Preschool</emph> Education (2024), 2024). As urbanization progresses, the number of kindergartens and enrollments in towns and villages will continue to decline, posing a significant challenge to the balanced development of preschool education.</p> <p>Student numbers and reduced demand for school placements, the number of kindergartens has decreased accordingly. In 2022, there were 289,200 kindergartens, down by 5,600 from the previous year—the first instance of negative growth since 2010. By 2023, this number further dropped to 274,400, marking a 5.12% decrease from 2022. Over these consecutive years, China has seen a cumulative reduction of 20,400 kindergartens nationwide. As fertility rate continue to decline and fewer children reach school age, kindergarten enrollments are anticipated to plummet by an estimated average of 28.68% across China by 2025 compared to 2020. Additionally, due to diminishing demand for preschool placements, there is an oversupply of full-time teachers, projected to result in a 35.32% reduction in full-time teachers by 2030(<emph>Report on Demographic Changes and Countermeasures for the Development of Preschool</emph> Education (2024), 2024). This declining trend underscores the urgent need for China to establish robust policies and systems to manage teacher resources, allocate teachers regionally, and plan its educational workforce, posing a new challenge as the nation strives to strengthen its basic education system and become a leading educational force globally.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-6">Methodology</hd> <p></p> <hd id="AN0191207137-7">Data collection</hd> <p>This study employs NVivo 12.0 Plus for qualitative analysis, using policy documents from three administrative levels in mainland China-national, provincial, and municipal-while excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan due to distinct cultural and policy contexts (Rao et al., 2017; Wong &amp; Rao, 2015). A total of 30 policy documents from 10 cities across 8 provinces, issued between 2018 and 2025, were selected for in-depth analysis. The selection process was based on three criteria: representativeness, innovation, and practical effectiveness. All documents were sourced primarily from official government websites and include national-level departments such as the State Council and the National Development and Reform Commission, as well as key municipalities, special administrative regions, autonomous regions, and provinces such as Beijing, Xinjiang, and Zhejiang. Representative cities such as Qingdao and Changsha were also included. The aim of this research is to provide policy-oriented insights into how preschool education can contribute to addressing demographic challenges in China.</p> <p>From the selection of national-level policy documents, the texts involve five key institutions: the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Education. These documents provide macro-level policy guidance on raising fertility rates in China, grounded in national conditions.At the provincial and municipal levels, the selected texts cover eight regions, including municipalities directly under the central government, special administrative regions, autonomous regions, and several provinces—namely Beijing, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu. Among them, regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang have played pioneering and demonstrative roles in responding to national calls, and the policies they have introduced are relatively representative. Furthermore, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, as a typical multi-ethnic region, possesses distinct regional characteristics. With the central-local policy coordination mechanism prioritizing educational support for Xinjiang, the analysis of its policy texts offers unique insights. At the city level, the selected policy documents cover ten representative cities: Hangzhou, Changsha, Ningbo, Suzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. It is undeniable that, in many cases, provincial and municipal policy documents tend to align with national-level policies. These local policies are typically adjusted according to the central government's macro-level directives and the specific developmental contexts of each region, following a top-down approach with an emphasis on practical effectiveness. Nevertheless, local governments also demonstrate initiative and explore innovative educational policies based on their unique resource advantages and developmental needs. For example, in 2020, Shanghai took the lead in proposing the concept of 'integrated childcare and education' in its Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Deepening Reform and Standardized Development of Preschool Education, encouraging public kindergartens to offer childcare classes to reduce parenting burdens. Following a year of pilot implementation, the central government, in its 2021 Decision on Improving Birth Policies to Promote Long-term Balanced Population Development, encouraged eligible kindergartens to open childcare classes and provide care services for children aged 2–3, thus promoting the development of integrated early childcare and education. Table 1.</p> <p>Graph</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-8">Data analysis</hd> <p>This study applies grounded theory to conduct a three-stage coding process: open coding, spindle coding and selective coding. The study randomly selected six samples for coding to assess theoretical saturation. The results showed no frequent emergence of new categories or concepts, nor were any new components uncovered from existing categories. Therefore, it can be concluded that the analysis has reached theoretical saturation and demonstrates good reliability. The research strictly adheres to the bottom-up three-stage coding process outlined by grounded theory. The aim of the study is to explore potential breakthrough pathways in preschool education through node analysis of Chinese education policy documents.</p> <p> <bold>Open Coding.</bold> The study processed the collected policy documents in the following steps: First, the imported texts were organized and labeled according to categories such as outlines, notices, plans, and opinions, resulting in 550 labels. Second, initial concepts were developed by comparing, analyzing, synthesizing, and merging similar labels, which led to 89 initial concepts. For example, the label 'Each town and district is equipped with a family science parenting guidance station, providing at least 10 guidance sessions annually for families in need' was abstracted into the concept of 'social guidance'. Third, categories were refined. Categories represent a further refinement of initial concepts, formed by grouping related concepts under a common theme. For instance, the concepts of 'social guidance' and 'institutional guidance' were combined into the category of 'building specialized family education guidance', ultimately resulting in 10 initial categories. Table 2.</p> <p>Graph</p> <p> <bold>Spindle coding.</bold> Based on the nature of the initial categories and their underlying logical relationships, the study developed main categories and subcategories. The research classified these categories according to their inherent logical connections at the conceptual level, leading to the identification of four main categories: deeply empowering family upbringing, diversity of childcare, building a favorable educational ecology, and quality and balanced education. Table 3.</p> <p>Graph</p> <p> <bold>Selective Coding.</bold> By analyzing the identified categories, the study extracted a core category and integrated the other subcategories into a unified framework. The core category identified is 'preschool education as a means to boost fertility intentions', and the development chain is linked as follows: based on China's national conditions and social policies, the aim is to offer a Chinese solution for countries and regions facing demographic challenges. Firstly, the foundation is built on deeply empowering family education, with a focus on making families the central agents of care. This is achieved by establishing professional family education guidance and expanding high-quality home-school cooperation mechanisms to help family members strengthen their confidence in parenting. Secondly, by integrating resources, the study promotes the diversification of childcare models. It addresses three key aspects of preschool education: developing childcare services, building community childcare networks, and supporting the growth of corporation childcare services. This approach ensures both the quality of childcare development and the provision of convenient, diverse, and high-quality services for families, alleviating the dual burden of work and parenting for parents. Furthermore, the establishment of a sound educational ecosystem serves as an important environmental safeguard. This includes guiding kindergartens and primary schools to achieve a smooth transition between preschool and primary education while avoiding premature academic pressures. This not only helps parents adopt a scientific approach to parenting but also reduces the unfair accumulation of educational resources within families, thus easing parental anxiety about education. Finally, from the perspective of broader social sustainability, the study focuses on three key areas to promote high-quality and equitable education: improving educational access for children of migrant populations, advancing education for ethnic minorities in specific regions, and enhancing the special education system. These efforts aim to reduce parental educational costs and psychological burdens, addressing their concerns and encouraging families to have children. Figure 2.</p> <p>Graph: Fig. 2 China's preschool education leading through the demographic cliff policy framework</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-9">Findings</hd> <p></p> <hd id="AN0191207137-10">Deeply empowering family upbringing</hd> <p>According to existing policies and data, China's fertility rate is declining annually, largely due to parents' lack of confidence in family education upbringing, which affects their willingness to have children. In 2021, the Chinese government introduced the Family Education Promotion Law, advocating close cooperation between families and kindergartens. This law encourages active participation in public welfare family education guidance and practice activities to foster a healthy cycle of family education upbringing development. By providing specialized guidance and expanding high-quality cooperation between families and kindergartens, confidence in optimal parenting is strengthened, enhancing family education upbringing competence.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-11">Constructing specialized family education upbringing guidance</hd> <p>In response to the current trends of declining fertility rates and education reform in China, building a mature family education upbringing guidance team has become essential. Diversified guidance teams and rich implementation forms in preschool education lay the foundation for providing specialized family education guidance. In 2024, China's Healthcare Commission issued a Notice on Comprehensively Carrying Out the Construction of Healthy Families, emphasizing the widespread promotion of eugenics, reproductive health knowledge, and scientific parenting skills. This initiative aims to provide scientific, evidence-based family education upbringing guidance. The complexity of individual growth and family childcare expenditures necessitates comprehensive multidisciplinary education guidance services, integrating education, health development, healthcare, and other basic livelihood areas. This approach enhances families' confidence in childbearing and parenting, establishing a scientific childcare concept.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-12">Expanding mechanisms for High-Quality Home-based Co-operation</hd> <p>To address parents' educational concerns, kindergartens should expand high-quality home cooperation education mechanisms. In 2022, Jiangsu Province issued the 'Jiangsu Province Home Education Digitalization Work Program', urging Kindergartens should actively engage with families to help parents create a positive educational environment at home. By sharing the responsibility of educating young children, kindergartens can promote the children's growth, enhance family harmony, and improve their services. This collaborative approach ensures the common development of children, families, and kindergartens. By organizing parental training and expert lectures on scientific parenting concepts, kindergartens can effectively alleviate parents' anxiety and promote competent family education. Additionally, kindergartens should build diverse cooperation forms, such as parent universities, parent volunteering, and active family engagement in kindergarten activities. These efforts aim to reduce family education upbringing pressure, awaken confidence in education, and mitigate negative educational attitudes. It has become a long-term strategy to promote fertility development in China.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-13">Diversity of childcare</hd> <p>Research indicates that China's childcare provision is significantly insufficient, currently at around 5.5%. This shortage has led to substantial birth anxiety, making childcare a critical livelihood issue (Sun et al., [<reflink idref="bib52" id="ref39">52</reflink>]). The burden of family-oriented childcare affects individual career development and influences childbearing decisions. By analyzing relevant policy texts, this study finds that enhancing the quality of inclusive childcare, accessible childcare and corporation childcare can improve overall childcare quality in China, meet family needs, and increase parents' fertility intentions.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-14">Vigorous development of childcare services</hd> <p>Developing a comprehensive childcare service system, increasing investment in talent and teacher development, and improving quality evaluation standards are crucial for advancing childcare services. Expanding preschool education from ages 3–6 to 2–6 is an inevitable trend, aiming to integrate childcare into preschool education. In 2023, Chongqing Municipality introduced management measures to support kindergartens in enrolling 2–3-year-olds for inclusive childcare services, thus meeting families' needs for diverse childcare options, reducing educational and economic burdens, and promoting children's comprehensive development. Additionally, integrating smart childcare and medical care into childcare institutions has improved service capacity and modernization. In 2023, China's Healthcare Commission issued the 'Guiding Opinions on Promoting Medical and Healthcare Institutions to Support the Development of Childcare Services'. This policy encourages collaboration between childcare institutions and hospitals to manage children' health and enhance medical services. The introduction of intelligent childcare, utilizing 5G technology and body monitoring equipment, fosters the integration of technological advancements and childcare.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-15">Building community childcare services</hd> <p>Community as the 'last kilometer' of people's development, the construction of high-quality and inclusive community childcare system is an important direction for the development of preschool education in China. In 2019, Suzhou City issued 'Several Opinions on Promoting the High-quality Development of Childcare Services', which emphasized the importance of developing community childcare services for children. This included enhancing embedded community services and forming childcare service complexes. Community institutions have centralized management and operations through multiple group networks to promote systematization, standardization, and diversification of childcare services. By mobilizing social resources, communities can integrate with childcare institutions, kindergartens, and children's hospitals to ensure the healthy development of children, thus forming a cohesive community childcare service network. Additionally, the community carries out childcare and undertakes after-school education resources, and childcare institutions and kindergartens, as the main place for children's day-to-day life, are still faced with a lack of care for children after school in the parks and institutions. Establishing these facilities alleviates parental concerns about childcare, enhances public service functions, and improves residents' willingness to have children. This comprehensive community childcare service system can significantly increase residents' willingness to have children, thereby addressing the country's low fertility rate (Liang, [<reflink idref="bib28" id="ref40">28</reflink>]).</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-16">Boosting the development of corporations childcare</hd> <p>In 2023, Beijing introduced the 'Three-Year Action Plan for the Construction of Beijing's Childcare Service System (2023–2025)', which encourages corporations to organize childcare institutions. Corporation childcare in China typically follows three models: corporation self-built childcare, collaborative childcare with third parties, and embedded childcare in industrial parks (Wang et al., [<reflink idref="bib56" id="ref41">56</reflink>]). The corporation self-built childcare model involves corporations creating childcare facilities with their own cultural characteristics, focusing on special curricula, cultural activities, and home-family co-education. The collaborative childcare with third parties' model, seen as the future direction for most corporations, leverages the service and supervision advantages of labor unions. This model involves collaboration between corporations and childcare facilities to develop curricula, ensure teacher qualifications, and maintain safety standards, addressing employees' fundamental needs and changing their perceptions of childbearing. The embedded childcare model is prevalent in industrial parks, where childcare facilities receive operational support, policy backing, and student support from corporations. This model ensures complementary support for the development of embedded childcare from various dimensions. Corporations, as social entities, can collaborate with childcare facilities to provide guidelines for social development. These guidelines help safeguard employees' childbearing and educational needs, reduce childcare burdens, and support diversity childcare forms.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-17">Building a favorable educational ecology</hd> <p>With the increasing trend of social and educational pressure, the burden on Chinese parents has become more severe, limiting contemporary fertility rates. Analyzing relevant policies reveals that effective scientific bridging between early childhood and elementary education can alleviate parents' educational anxieties. By reversing educational pressure through systematic promotion and two-way articulation, and by establishing a long-term mechanism for the scientific integration of kindergarten and elementary school, we can improve the quality of education. This foundation will help create a harmonious, stable, and comfortable social environment, reduce parental pressure, and increase fertility intentions among people of the appropriate age group.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-18">Scientific articulation and child development</hd> <p>To foster a seamless transition, kindergartens need to adopt a scientific approach to educational articulation. Kindergarten teachers, equipped with a strong sense of this integration, should prepare children for elementary school through specialized early childhood development courses. These courses enhance children's familiarity with and understanding of elementary school settings. Government initiatives also play a vital role by helping parents change their educational outlook through targeted publicity and guidance, thereby reducing their educational anxieties. In 2021, Shenzhen City issued the 'Implementation Plan on Promoting the Scientific Bridging of Kindergarten and Primary Schools', which emphasizes respecting children's subjective status. This plan focuses on the integration of physical, mental, life, social, and learning readiness. By enhancing children's social interactions, self-regulation, rule awareness, concentration, and persistence, the plan ensures they are well-prepared for elementary school. Additionally, teachers should focus on the continuity of educational segments and their own professional development to master the knowledge of educational articulation. They should understand zero-start teaching and promote quality development through game-based curricula.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-19">Avoiding overeducation</hd> <p>China's education system currently faces imbalanced development between primary and secondary levels. Non-compulsory out-of-school education encroaches on students' after-school time, disrupting the educational ecosystem and exacerbating educational pressure, which negatively affects parents' mentalities. In response, China's Ministry of Education issued the 'Guiding Opinions on Vigorously Promoting the Scientific Bridging of Kindergarten and Primary Schools' in 2021. This proposal aims to establish a learning community where kindergartens and elementary schools are intertwined, and to improve the mechanism of home-school co-education. Achieving the development pattern of 'interconnection between kindergarten and elementary school' involves gradually aligning elementary school teaching methods with those of kindergartens and enhancing kindergarten preparation content. This two-way convergence will mitigate over-preparatory education and reduce external factors affecting children's development. Simultaneously, abandoning the notion of "overshooting" in education will alleviate family anxieties, allowing parents to appreciate the beauty of childbearing and build confidence in their children's future development.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-20">Quality and balanced education</hd> <p>Instead of favoring equity that lacks education quality or quality that lacks education equity, China's education value scale in the new era pursues people-centered quality education equity and equity-heavy education quality (Zhao, [<reflink idref="bib66" id="ref42">66</reflink>]), The failure to address educational fairness has somewhat inhibited family fertility behaviors. Analyzing existing policies, it becomes clear that to improve educational quality and balance in China, preschool education must address the needs of children from migrant and ethnic minority areas and provide timely screening, intervention and treatment for children with special needs in a variety of forms. This ensures that parents' educational concerns are mitigated. For this reason, in addition to the five categories[<reflink idref="bib2" id="ref43">2</reflink>] of children recognized by the Chinese Government as benefiting from the preschool education subsidy policy, it is still necessary to explore forms of subsidy for low-income families and families with an excessive burden of preschool education, to ensure universal access to fair and quality preschool education as much as possible (Wei et al., [<reflink idref="bib57" id="ref44">57</reflink>]), so as to provide the basis for the precise implementation of policies to reduce the burden of preschool education on parents in the context of active reproductive support.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-21">Improvement of education for children of the migrant population</hd> <p>According to the survey data, in 2020, China had 71.09 million migrant children and 66.93 million left-behind children, totaling 138 million, nearly half of the country's child population (46.4%) (Education, 2024). Regional mobility is more complex while still continuing to urban mobility, showing different trends of regional changes in the East, Central and West, large and medium-sized cities, urban and rural areas, etc. (Pang, [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref45">36</reflink>]). These issues stem from children either staying in rural areas while their parents work in cities or moving to cities with their parents. With the ongoing rural revitalization strategy, there has been a significant focus on rural preschool education. In 2019, the State Council's Report on the Reform and Development of Preschool Education emphasized improving rural preschool education services, particularly at the county and village levels. Township central kindergartens play a critical role in supporting village kindergartens, driving the overall development and quality improvement of preschool education in rural areas. By optimizing the allocation of resources for rural preschool education and implementing the balanced development of education, rural preschool education has improved the quality of educational development through educational management and the introduction of teachers, reduced parents' educational anxiety and burden, and alleviated parents' worries. Improving rural preschool education and public services can attract population backflow, build harmonious communities, and promote national fertility rates. In the urban-rural integration process, the focus has shifted from merely providing schooling to ensuring quality education. The government has provided financial support, and kindergartens have expanded their services to include migrant children, ensuring their right to education. This approach helps solve educational issues, alleviates parents' worries, and promotes a higher fertility rate by developing a high-quality and balanced education system.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-22">Promoting the development of ethnic Areas - Minority education</hd> <p>In 2017, the Chinese government introduced the Measures for the Administration of Central Financial Support for Preschool Education Development Funds, emphasizing increased provincial-level coordination for fund distribution, particularly targeting border and ethnic minority areas. This initiative aims to deepen reforms and support systematic funding mechanisms in these regions (Kang &amp; Deng, [<reflink idref="bib22" id="ref46">22</reflink>]), ensuring no one is left behind, thus promoting educational quality and balance. In 2021, the Ministry of Education, along with nine other departments, issued the '14th Five-Year Plan of Action for Enhancing the Development of Preschool Education'. This plan prioritizes the universal, inclusive, safe, and high-quality development of preschool education, with a special focus on ethnic minority regions, particularly the 'Three Regions and Three States'. Addressing these regions' unique challenges is crucial for stabilizing confidence in education (Hong et al., [<reflink idref="bib16" id="ref47">16</reflink>]). Moreover, research on fertility intentions among ethnic minorities suggests that minority youth who receive family support for raising children tend to have higher fertility intentions. In the Guizhou region, the fertility intention rate among ethnic minority youth (1.86) is slightly higher than that of Han Chinese youth (1.82). Developing education policies that are aligned with the province's specific conditions and actively promoting family-based childcare are essential for alleviating concerns about family education and for advancing high-quality and equitable education in China (Zhou &amp; Peng, [<reflink idref="bib72" id="ref48">72</reflink>]).</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-23">Improvement of the special education development system</hd> <p>With the declining population, more opportunities have arisen for special needs children to transition from segregated special education schools to integrated ordinary schools. The implementation of the 2nd Special Education Enhancement Program has seen the proportion of integrated education for special needs children exceed 50%, with increasing participation in preschool integrated education(<emph>Basic national education development in 2023</emph>, 2024). In 2021, the Ministry of Education issued the '14th Five-Year Plan of Action for Enhancing the Development of Special Education', which promotes the active development of preschool special education. It encourages ordinary kindergartens to accept children with disabilities who can benefit from general education. Additionally, it supports the establishment of preschool departments in special education schools, children's welfare institutions, and rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities, and encourages the creation of specialized kindergartens for these children.These initiatives aim to provide appropriate care, education, rehabilitation, and early intervention services. Upgrading the quality of special education and service levels helps reduce the time and financial burden on families, giving parents confidence in the education system. In 2022, the China Healthcare Commission issued the 'Specification on Screening and Intervention Services for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children Aged 0 to 6 (Trial Implementation)'. This document emphasizes grassroots-based intervention and rehabilitation to provide accessible and convenient services for children with autism. Efforts focus on improving service capacity at the grassroots level, ensuring scientific and standardized services, and reducing service radius to enhance accessibility. These measures aim to shift the focus from merely seeking educational equity to achieving quality and balanced education, providing families with special needs children a sense of security and renewed confidence in the education system.</p> <p>According to relevant data, after seven consecutive years of declining newborn populations since 2017, China's fertility rate reversed in 2024. Compared to the total number of births in 2023, the number of births in 2024 increased by 520,000, reaching 9.54 million. The fertility rate rose from 6.39‰ to 6.77‰ (Statistics, 2025). At the same time, several provinces have experienced a rebound in birth populations, fertility rates, and natural growth rates. For instance, in 2024, Guangdong's fertility rate stood at 8.89‰, with a birth population of 1.133 million and a natural growth rate of 3.69, significantly higher than the national average. In recent years, Guangdong has consistently focused on advancing the development of its educational sector, implementing policies that ensure birth defect screening services for pregnant women and newborns, as well as increasing the supply of affordable childcare services (News, 2025). This provides valuable insights for addressing fertility concerns among the eligible population. Additionally, related research indicates that among the measures outlined in fertility support policies, the development of childcare service systems has the most significant impact on increasing fertility rates. Next in effectiveness are the promotion of changes in fertility concepts and the special deductions for childcare education expenses. Focusing on the 'active development of childcare service systems' and continuing to optimize and adjust existing fertility policies to meet the childcare needs of the population, as well as creating a childcare-friendly society, is crucial for alleviating current family education pressures and shifting fertility attitudes (Sun &amp; Gao, 2025).</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-24">Discussion</hd> <p>Population is a widespread issue affecting many countries, necessitating various strategies to address persistently low fertility rates. Scholars have emphasized the need to innovate maternity leave systems to better align with fertility policies (Yang &amp; Sui, [<reflink idref="bib61" id="ref49">61</reflink>]). Additionally, higher socio-economic status is linked to a greater willingness to have children (Shi &amp; Wang, [<reflink idref="bib46" id="ref50">46</reflink>]). This paper aims to outline reform options for preschool education policy while also exploring broader strategies to address population issues.The study focuses on four key areas: deeply empowering family upbringing, diversity of childcare, building a favorable education ecology and promoting the quality and balanced education. The Chinese government has adjusted its preschool education policies to reflect these priorities. Analysis of these policies indicates that improving family upbringing guidance, fostering positive family culture, and enhancing cooperation between home and educational institutions can boost parental enthusiasm for parenting and stabilize fertility rates long-term. This is supported by research suggesting that refined child-rearing methods and reduced educational costs can moderate fertility expenses and enhance fertility motivation (Li, [<reflink idref="bib26" id="ref51">26</reflink>]) (Theme1).Moreover, integrating various childcare options—such as community and enterprise-based services—improves the quality and structure of early childhood care. This approach advances China's rapidly developing childcare sector and aims to link childcare services with increased fertility rates. Offering diverse childcare options can ease parental pressure, particularly for women, and enhance family planning and timing for childbearing (Li &amp; Wu), this appears to be consistent with the goals we aim to achieve. (Theme 2) Additionally, fostering effective and scientific convergence between kindergarten and primary school, while reducing excessive preparatory education and improving educational ecology, can help mitigate parental anxiety. This approach supports the revitalization of fertility willingness by reducing family burdens (Theme 3). Lastly, providing balanced, high-quality education for migrant children, ethnic minorities, and children with special needs is crucial for promoting educational equity. This evolving policy focus aligns with Du et al.'s research (Du, [<reflink idref="bib10" id="ref52">10</reflink>]) and emphasizes addressing underlying social development values to stimulate reproductive potential among these populations (Theme 4). However, while the four aspects outlined above can help ease parental anxiety, reduce parenting pressures, and enhance fertility willingness, several challenges may still constrain the actual impact of education policies. First, the inherent lag in the manifestation of educational outcomes prevents parents from observing immediate results and making timely decisions, while fertility decisions and behaviors are also influenced by the delayed effects of policy implementation (Zheng, [<reflink idref="bib69" id="ref53">69</reflink>]), this may undermine the observable effectiveness of the policies. Second, disparities in regional economic conditions lead to uneven development of the same policy strategies-for instance, shifting from a shortage of childcare resources to a lack of financial capacity for childcare-which results in imbalances in resources and childcare costs. Consequently, many families cannot access or afford high-quality childcare and education (Zhao &amp; Zhang, [<reflink idref="bib67" id="ref54">67</reflink>]), suggesting that economic and livelihood factors may shape policy implementation. Moreover, fertility choices are shaped by multiple factors, and cultural preferences-such as those related to the Chinese zodiac or clan traditions-may contribute to fluctuations in fertility rates (Han &amp; Li, [<reflink idref="bib14" id="ref55">14</reflink>]; Tan et al., [<reflink idref="bib53" id="ref56">53</reflink>]). Yet, over time, such tendencies may dilute positive evaluations of the policy and undermine its long-term effectiveness.</p> <p>Western countries commonly address low fertility by enhancing their talent pool through immigration, improving social security systems, and upgrading fertility support systems (Ren, [<reflink idref="bib41" id="ref57">41</reflink>]). Studies show that these improvements often lead to increased fertility rates (Shen &amp; Zhang, [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref58">45</reflink>]). However, nations experiencing persistent low fertility need more comprehensive approaches to build effective support systems. This study explores how China can enhance its fertility support from an educational perspective. Key strategies in preschool education include promoting universal childcare and easing parental pressure through family guidance. Looking at international experiences, Singapore and South Korea provide family benefits in the form of fertility subsidies and child allowances (Son, [<reflink idref="bib47" id="ref59">47</reflink>]), while Japan has introduced daycare programs and measures such as the New Dimension Measure to combat its low fertility rate, albeit with limited success (Kim &amp; Chung, [<reflink idref="bib23" id="ref60">23</reflink>]). In contrast, European countries have achieved relatively positive results in stabilizing fertility rates by offering affordable, high-quality childcare services and family-friendly soft support (Bergsvik et al., [<reflink idref="bib2" id="ref61">2</reflink>]; Brini, [<reflink idref="bib4" id="ref62">4</reflink>]). This difference highlights the limitations of solely using economic measures to regulate fertility. Fertility economics theory suggests that enhancing fertility intentions requires not only lowering direct economic costs but also reducing opportunity costs and psychological costs. In other words, related policies should focus on changing unhealthy competition between parents and reducing parental anxiety, addressing educational soft services. Thus, we realize that the framework for fertility support must include not only financial "hard power" but also essential educational soft services, such as a fair social environment, a favorable educational ecosystem, and a systematic approach to educational development.</p> <p>Moreover, promoting fertility recovery requires a multifaceted approach that addresses education, employment, health care, and the aging process. This strategy should identify specific challenges associated with different types of births and provide targeted support to various groups. For example, issues such as the social integration of second-generation migrants and the pressures from the 'education frenzy' (Hong, [<reflink idref="bib15" id="ref63">15</reflink>]) are significant. A longitudinal review of China's policies shows that their effectiveness varies depending on the implementation level. The differences in policy execution at the national, provincial, and municipal levels underscore the need for better coordination between these government tiers. Enhanced alignment among departments at each level is crucial for effective policy implementation. Furthermore, economic and educational disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as between eastern and western China, affect education and population dynamics. Studies have found a positive correlation between education and fertility (Jin et al., [<reflink idref="bib21" id="ref64">21</reflink>]). Therefore, increasing educational investment in rural and western regions is vital for creating a virtuous cycle of improved education and fertility. As global education reforms advance, preschool education is expected to play a key role in boosting national fertility rates. By significantly contributing to the support and service system for population development, preschool education can enhance fertility rates and support population growth.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-25">Acknowledgments</hd> <p>The authors have no Acknowledgments.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-26">Author Contribution</hd> <p>ShiYing Wang oversaw the entire research process and ensured consistency across the study design, analysis, and interpretation. FanShuai Bu provided overall academic oversight of the study, ensuring the coherence, rigor, and integrity of the manuscript. XinXue Zhu Participated in the development and optimization of the research protocol. Fang Wang contributed to the data organization, and proofreading of the manuscript. RuoXi Teng assisted in data entry. Hang Zhou participated in material collection. GenJian Zhang was responsible for coordinating data collection and checking reference accuracy. MingYu Zhang contributed to data verification, and provided constructive feedback on the manuscript. MingYu Li assisted in visual presentation, result validation, and improvement of the discussion section. Zhong Han ontributed to coordinating revisions in response to peer-review comments.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-27">Funding</hd> <p>This study was supported by grants from Shandong Province Social Science Planning Research Project (grant number 21DJYJ04), Qingdao Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project (grant number QDSKL2201106), National Higher Education Science Research Planning Project of China (grant number23ZK0403), Shandong Province Social Science Planning Research Special Project (grant number 23BFNJ02), Qingdao Educational Science Planning Project (grant number QJK2024E100), Qingdao Educational Science Planning Project (grant number QJK2024D040), Shandong Provincial Preschool Education Research (Key) Project Research on Quality Evaluation and Improvement Strategies for Educational Activities in Affordable Kindergartens (grant number 2022xqjy005).</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-28">Data availability</hd> <p>The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-29">Declarations</hd> <p></p> <hd id="AN0191207137-30">Ethical approval and consent to participate</hd> <p>This article does not contain any studies with human or animal participants.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-31">Permission to reproduce material from other sources</hd> <p>No reproduction of other source material.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-32">Competing interests</hd> <p>The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article'.</p> <hd id="AN0191207137-33">Publisher's note</hd> <p>Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.</p> <ref id="AN0191207137-34"> <title> References </title> <blist> <bibl id="bib1" idref="ref37" type="bt">1</bibl> <bibtext> Basic national education development in 2023. 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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: How Preschool Education Surmount 'Demographic Cliff'? A Systematic Policies Analysis of China – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shi+Ying+Wang%22">Shi Ying Wang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fan+Shuai+Bu%22">Fan Shuai Bu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xin+Xue+Zhu%22">Xin Xue Zhu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fang+Wang%22">Fang Wang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ruo+Xi+Teng%22">Ruo Xi Teng</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hang+Zhou%22">Hang Zhou</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gen+Jian+Zhang%22">Gen Jian Zhang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ming+Yu+Zhang%22">Ming Yu Zhang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ming+Yu+Li%22">Ming Yu Li</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhong+Han%22">Zhong Han</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Child+Care+and+Education+Policy%22"><i>International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy</i></searchLink>. 2026 20. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 21 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Population+Trends%22">Population Trends</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Population+Education%22">Population Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Birth+Rate%22">Birth Rate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Policy+Analysis%22">Policy Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Factors%22">Economic Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Role+of+Education%22">Role of Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink> – Name: DOI Label: DOI Group: ID Data: 10.1186/s40723-025-00163-0 – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 1976-5681<br />2288-6729 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Unlike the immigration policies in regions such as Europe and the United States and the economic subsidy policies in countries like Japan and South Korea aimed at stimulating population growth, China emphasizes integrating education and population development. This approach considers population issues from an educational perspective, significantly enhancing the fertility motivation of the school-age population while improving the quality and equity of education. In response to the current low fertility rate, the Chinese government has introduced a series of preschool education policies since 2015 to promote rational demographic development. Since 2015, the Chinese government has introduced a series of preschool education policies aimed at promoting a balanced population structure. These policies can serve as a reference for other countries facing similar challenges. This study explores how to address demographic issues through preschool education to boost fertility intentions. It begins with an examination of the challenges associated with China's persistently low fertility rate and the implementation of proactive reproductive policies. Using NVivo12, a systematic qualitative analysis of policy texts from various levels of Chinese government is conducted. The study identifies how preschool education can enhance fertility intentions in China amidst the global trend of declining fertility rates and aims to offer Chinese proposals for formulating policies and measures to address low fertility rates worldwide. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: ERIC – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1504890 |
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