"The policy is the government's way of saying, 'We've got your back,'" said Dr. Yang Yajuan, a Shenzhen-based pediatrician tracking birth rates – herself a mother of three. China has announced plans to gradually introduce free preschool education nationwide. Coupled with a new universal childcare subsidy starting in January, these initiatives aim to boost birth rates and ease the financial burden on parents. For parents like Dr. Yang, these policies signify more than just statistics – they reflect a growing recognition that raising children is becoming a shared national priority.