For years the Rural Education Action Program (REAP) has been working to improve early childhood development outcomes across rural China. One of the most impactful programs has been the development and implementation of  REAP’s parenting curriculum and parenting centers. The centers expand upon our parenting curriculum by providing free and accessible spaces where caregivers and their young children can read, play, and explore together using developmentally appropriate toys and books that promote cognitive development. REAP has now supported the development of over 150 centers at county, township, and village levels across multiple provinces. 

Recently, REAP helped establish a parenting center at the Zhengzhou Foxconn Facility serving migrant factory employees and their families. Since opening, the center has already hosted over 10,000 child visits and supported over 350 families. Following the REAP model, this parenting center combines a research-based curriculum for early childhood development with local needs. The new center has received positive media attention across several outlets in China, including Henan Daily, Global Times, and Zhenggang News. The success of this parenting center introduces new opportunities for future parenting center collaborations that better serve manufacturing communities across China.