"Babysitter House? It's truly a top-notch facility. Our child goes in every morning with a smile, and as parents we feel great reassurance and satisfaction."
On the 25th in the morning, at Seogang Babysitter House in Sangsu-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. Eun Hwan-su, who was dropping off a 2-year-old child, gave a thumbs-up to the reporters. Opened by Mapo District as the second site after Gongdeok-dong in Dec. last year, this place goes beyond a simple daycare center to a so-called "specialized care model," and word of mouth is spreading fast among local parents.
◇ Must pass through an "air shower" to enter... hygiene reminiscent of a semiconductor plant
The first thing that stood out at the entrance was an "air shower" device. It is equipment you would expect to see in a semiconductor clean room or a medical facility that demands extreme cleanliness. Not only children but also visitors must go through a process that blows off fine dust and viruses from head to toe before stepping inside. The aim is to thoroughly protect infants and toddlers with weak immune systems from external contaminants.
Inside, a wide-open indoor space unfolded. Thick safety mats were installed across the entire floor and walls so children can run and play freely. One wall is even equipped with a climbing facility with panels that can be raised. The available area per infant or toddler here is about 7–8㎡. That is nearly twice as large as the minimum legal standard for daycare centers (4.29㎡).
Director Kim Mi-ok of Seogang Babysitter House said, "We boldly eliminated one of the existing classes to create this space," and added, "Because of fine dust and climate change, some children can't go outside, so we made it possible for them to burn off energy indoors. The response is so strong that parents decide to enroll right after seeing this space."
◇ "No worries even if we work late"... lights on at the care facility until 10 p.m.
It's not just that the facility is good. What really scratches the itch for dual-income couples is the bold operating hours. This place runs from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. For office-worker couples who often face sudden overtime or company dinners, it is nothing short of a lifesaver.
If desired, children who arrive at 7 a.m. are served breakfast, and after 4 p.m., dinner is provided as well. All meals are prepared on-site by a professional cook. To improve the quality of care, in addition to homeroom teachers, assistant teachers and babysitters are assigned to provide close supervision.
◇ A waitlist of 40 just for the 0–2 age classes... "Improving care quality is the solution to low birthrates"
Because the facilities and programs are flawless, competition to enroll is beyond fierce. The current capacity of 48 is already full, and for the 0–2 age classes, which require a lot of hands-on care, the waitlist alone exceeds 40.
Parents we met on-site said in unison that "it's better than private facilities." Director Kim said, "Before opening, we benchmarked all the popular daycare centers in the area and worked to create a top-tier environment."
Born of a carefully planned local government initiative, the "Mapo-style care model" is presenting a milestone for where public childcare should head in an era of low birthrates. Mapo District Mayor Park Kang-su said, "For 'seamless care' that lets parents entrust their children with peace of mind, we will continue to provide full support."