Gwanak-gu Operates 'Online Classes' for Parents Exhausted from Homebound Childcare

Gwanak-type Mother Center Airang (Daehak-dong Branch) Presents Online Live Lecture 'Raensun Class'... Offering Story Talk Shows, Art Programs, and New Energy for Parents and Children Tired of Staying Home

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) is introducing an online live lecture series called ‘Lan Line Class’ at the Gwanak-style Mother Center 'I-rang' to support parents and children exhausted from long-term homebound parenting due to COVID-19.

I-rang is a Gwanak-style Mother Center that integrates the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s Co-parenting Sharing Center and Seoul City’s Open Parenting Room projects, providing childcare, counseling, play, and cultural experiences tailored to the needs of Gwanak-gu users. There are a total of three locations (Daehak-dong branch, Nanhyang branch, Nakseongdae branch).

The district originally planned to run various specialized programs promoting happy lives and healthy growth for parenting parents and children at the three I-rang centers starting in April, but postponed the plans due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, the Daehak-dong branch of I-rang has launched the first online live lecture ‘Lan Line Class’ using a non-face-to-face video system, receiving continuous positive responses.

The ‘Lan Line Class’ at the Daehak-dong branch consists of a ‘Story Talk Show’ where parents exhausted from prolonged homebound parenting and lack of communication share parenting stories in real time, and an ‘Art Play Program’ where parents and children can heal their mind and body through art play using soil, wood, pebbles, and more.

Ms. Lee (in her 30s), who participated in the Lan Line Class, said, “As the time spent at home lengthened, I felt depressed and frustrated, but through this online class, I can communicate with other parenting parents and resolve concerns, which gives me new energy.” She added, “My children also seem to enjoy it more as they experience new play beyond their usual activities.”

The district plans to resume program operations at each branch in the future, based on monitoring the COVID-19 situation, limiting the number of users through the ‘I-rang reservation system (Gwanak-gu Office website),’ and continuing social distancing in daily life.

Gwanak-gu plans to open an additional I-rang Boramae branch linked with the Open Parenting Room (Seoul City) project in the second half of this year, and expand to a total of six centers by 2022 to create a unique care space where parenting parents and children can comfortably use.

Mayor Park Junhee said, “We plan to actively support increasing parents’ satisfaction with childcare environments and ensuring children grow up bright and healthy by evenly installing and operating I-rang, a space where children can play freely and parents can gather to resolve parenting concerns, throughout the region.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.