Chinese industry targeting parent-child activities to exceed 3 trillion yuan

More and more young Chinese parents rely on third parties to develop plans of spending quality time with their children. [Photo: maitao.com]

The industry focusing on parent-child activities in China is looking to exceed three trillion yuan (435.8 billion USD) in value in 2018, according to a research report by Analysys, a Chinese Internet big data service provider. The valuation of the industry already reached two trillion yuan (290.5 billion USD) in 2015. 

In China, more and more young parents rely on third parties to develop plans of spending quality time with their children. Wanfantian, a Wuhan-based Internet company, has targeted the business of parent-child activities since its founding in 2015.

"It's not simply playing with children. Parents usually have specific requirements for the activities, like building up their children's bodies and broadening their mental horizons," said Zheng Wei, a team leader of parent-child activity groups with Wanfantian.

Zheng Wei, a parent-child activity group leader, plays with children. [Photo: dzwww.com]

Zheng added that where and how to carry out the parent-child activities are the two must-solve problems for him every time.

Before joining the industry, Zheng worked in an early childhood development institution. He heard about his current field of work through a mother that he worked with and has been one of the six full-time parent-child activity group leaders in Wanfantian since July last year, reports Economic Daily.

Unlike Zheng, who works full time, most group leaders only work part time. In Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, hundreds of teachers from kindergartens and pre-school education institutions, as well as hospitable mothers, spend their weekends leading parent-child activity groups. 

Screenshot of the official website of Wanfantian, a Wuhan-based parent-child activity provider. [Photo: wan.wanfantian.com]

Both the full-time and part-time activity group leaders are trained regularly by the company. Meanwhile, the company reportedly assesses their performances and regulates their services.

Recently, maitao.com, a parent-child activity provider in China, received 70 million yuan in a round of Series B financing. A survey conducted in Wuhan shows that 65.12% of parents spend 100 to 500 yuan on parent-child activities at a time. 

Most parents say they expect the activities to be educational and interactive.