117 Cooperative Parenting Groups, Including Baby Food Know-How and Parenting Tips, Active in Seocho-gu...

Support Provided for Meeting Expenses and Healing Program Participation
for Online Zoom Sessions on Baby Food Know-How, Parenting Tips,
and Childcare Challenges

Monkeys Dad Meeting

[Asia Economy, Reporter Park Jongil] Seocho-gu (District Mayor Cho Eunhee) announced that 117 cooperative parenting groups are actively operating in the district, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “Together We Nurture Cooperative Parenting” program organizes groups for families with infants and young children in the local community. Through communication among members, the initiative aims to help children build positive peer relationships, while providing parents with opportunities to learn parenting know-how and share both the joys and challenges of raising children, offering healing for both body and mind.

Over the years, the district has continuously expanded the size and eligibility for support to cooperative parenting groups, which consist of 3 to 8 families with children (or grandchildren) aged 0 to 7 years old.

In particular, last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic persisted and parents and children became increasingly exhausted from solo parenting at home, the district provided “stay-at-home play kits” such as clay, paper car kits, and wooden spinning top kits, as well as plant cultivation kits so children could grow plants at home.

This year, the activity budget for regular group activities-including sensory play, physical exercise, and cooking-has been further expanded, with support ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 won per child. Activity funding is also provided for sessions conducted via Zoom due to the pandemic.

Additionally, when self-help groups are held online on topics such as baby food know-how, parenting tips, and childcare challenges, meeting expenses are supported.

Furthermore, when a new group is formed, a welcome box is provided, which includes a cooperative parenting guidebook and basic activity materials such as clay and paint. The district is expanding various support measures for new groups.

Notably, Seocho-gu has seen a continuous increase in cooperative parenting groups formed by fathers, drawing attention.

This year, a total of 38 fathers’ groups have been established, marking a 38-fold increase from just one group in 2017. The “Monkeys Team,” a cooperative parenting group made up of fathers with children born in the Year of the Monkey, has conducted a variety of activities over the past year, including making strawberry jam and decorating Christmas trees with their children.

These fathers’ cooperative parenting groups play a significant role in increasing fathers’ interest and participation in childcare. Since 2018, Seocho-gu has implemented several pioneering initiatives, including the nation’s first monthly 300,000 won childcare leave allowance for fathers and the first-ever grandparent caregiver training program, to encourage participation from the entire family and make Seocho a better place to raise children.

For consultations and inquiries regarding the “Together We Nurture Cooperative Parenting” program, residents can contact the Seocho-gu Childcare Support Center and the Sinbanpo Childcare Support Center.

Cho Eunhee, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, “Through the ‘Together We Nurture Cooperative Parenting’ program, which has been implemented for 11 years, I hope families can create quality time between parents and children during early childhood,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to ease the burden of childcare and help families experience happy parenting through upgraded and diverse childcare policies.”

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