Ｔｈｅ　Ｂｏｏｍｉｎｇ　Ｂａｂｙ　Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ.docVIP

Ｔｈｅ　Ｂｏｏｍｉｎｇ　Ｂａｂｙ　Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ 　　CHINA’S long-standing one-child policy has meant that an only child’s education has always been a matter of primary importance to Chinese families. But while children under three were in the past encouraged to play freely and develop physically, the growing popularity of early childhood education has meant that infants as young as six months are being enrolled in pre-school classes. 　　 　　Early Childhood 　　Education 　　 　　Zhang Ying and her baby have just completed their first parenting course at Oriental Babycare, one of the many early childhood education centers opening up around the country. “I’m so exhausted! We play with them throughout the course,” she said. She is drenched in sweat from the workout, but cannot help kissing her six-month-old toddler. “He knows how to react to me. He seems to be growing up in the twinkling of an eye.” 　　 　　Before giving birth, Zhang, like other expectant mothers in China’s large cities, went through a prenatal training program. Her health was carefully monitored at a nearby hospital, and she learned how to eat properly, exercise, prepare for labor and to breast feed at the hospital’s free training program for mothers-to-be. 　　“I listened to music, tried to maintain a peaceful frame of mind, talked with my baby and caressed it,” Zhang said. She also learned that there are many institutes engaged in early childhood education. 　　Oriental Babycare caught Zhang’s attention with its labor preparation program. As the only partner of Lamaze International in China, it advocates the benefits of a normal birth. “The baby’s head is under considerable pressure during the delivery,” Zhang said. “I learned how to avoid hurting the baby and how to reduce the pain of childbirth.” 　　Young parents-to-be with careers understand the value of education and competitiveness. They do not want their children to lose out at the starting line, so they are enrolling them in early education classes in growing numbers. In