The new policy of reduced school hours has caused headaches for parents.
Many have been forced to change work schedules to both drop off and pick up children from school.
Beginning this semester, all local primary schools were required to cancel early morning reading time and cut class lengths from 40 minutes to 35 minutes.
The new policy, issued by the Shanghai Education Commission, aims to reduce the heavy burden on students. Children now start school 15 minutes later and return home 40 minutes earlier.
"That changed my original schedule and caused many inconveniences," said Ge Wanlong, a father.
Last semester, classes ended at 4pm or 5pm - enough time for parents to get off work and pick up their children. With the new policy however, some students are finishing school at 3:15pm.
"How can I stop working to pick up my daughter," Ge asked.
In response, some families hired a domestic helper to bring children home, according to Li Li, a teacher at No. 1 Central Primary School in Jing'an District.
Parents also said they were worried about what their unattended children were doing with the leisure time after school.
"I can't help but think about what my son is doing after getting home alone," said mother Ren Xiaomei.
She suggested that schools organize extracurricular activities after class for students.