Innovative service providers deserve attention and help

Over the past couple of years, my son, who is now 9 years old, has made it a habit to demand spring outings. Usually, my answer is: "You need to wait for once-in-a-semester tour your school arranges" or "Let's schedule a family picnic next week or the week after". For working parents in major Chinese cities like Beijing, such a reply is neither too cruel nor too kind.

This year has been different, however.

One day my wife came home with a tip from another parent about a small tour club for kids. She contacted the club through WeChat and immediately paid online for our son's tour. The following Sunday, our son joined a group of 20 similar-age kids led by five college-graduate club employees to ride locally rented bicycles in fresh air and sunshine at a forest park beyond the limits of urban Beijing.