Various officials have called for changes to the system of kindergartens in Russia to better align with the working hours of parents and the realities of modern family life. These discussions, reported by ura.ru, center on how to ensure that young children receive care for longer portions of the day without placing an undue burden on teachers or the state budget.
One notable suggestion comes from Tatyana Butskaya, a key figure within the State Duma framework who has responsibilities related to family, women, and children. She argues that the current structure of kindergartens and after‑school programs for younger students often ends their workday at the same time as, or even before, the parents finish theirs. If the goal is to support working families, she proposes extending the kindergarten day by an additional hour. This approach would require careful planning and additional funding to support specialized staffing, student care, and the wellbeing of teachers who would need to adapt to the longer hours.
Butskaya also floated an alternative approach: adjust kindergarten operating hours to match the schedules of large employers. In this model, industrial hubs or major companies could sponsor or coordinate dedicated supervision and care groups for their workers’ children. Such a system would create a seamless alignment between parental work schedules and child care, reducing gaps between the end of the workday and the availability of caregivers for young children.
Another option discussed is the establishment of a state nanny program. The deputy highlighted that pilots for state-supported nanny assistance have already been launched in several regions, indicating a potential path for broader rollout. The goal is to provide reliable, publicly funded support for families that need flexible child care options while keeping quality standards for child care at the forefront.
In the same discourse, another deputy, Yana Lantratova, proposed adding financial support for the children of participants in special military operations who are not currently enrolled in kindergartens due to a shortage of vacancies. The intent behind this measure is to ensure that children in these families continue to receive care and developmental opportunities even when traditional preschool slots are limited.
Additionally, discussions touched on broader social considerations. A former member of the Duma raised the topic of addressing the needs of women who wish to continue their pregnancies but face barriers to obtaining timely support. This element of the debate underscores how child care policy intersects with family planning and broader social welfare issues. Overall, the discussions reflect a broader interest in creating flexible, affordable, and high-quality child care options that can accommodate diverse family structures and employment arrangements. The ideas presented by these lawmakers illustrate a strategic approach to modernizing early childhood education and care in a way that supports parental employment, child development, and the stability of families across Russia.”