Against the backdrop of declining fertility rates in China, the integration of early childhood education and care (ECEC) has become an imperative for kindergarten transformation and sustainable development. Employing a mixed-methods approach that combines systematic literature review with data analysis. It systematically examines the practical challenges confronting integrated ECEC services in kindergartens across four dimensions: the teaching workforce, curriculum and pedagogy, environmental design, and evaluation systems. Grounded in the philosophy of integrated care and education, the study proposes corresponding optimization strategies: cultivating a high-quality teaching workforce, refining curriculum and activities, creating safe and developmentally appropriate environments, and enhancing the evaluation framework. These measures aim to foster the holistic development of children aged 0–6 in kindergarten settings.

Shuyu Yang. Development of Integrated Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Kindergartens amid Low Fertility: Challenges and Optimization Strategies. Frontiers in Educational Research (2026), Vol. 9, Issue 7: 63-71. https://doi.org/10.25236/FER.2026.090707.

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