– By Vasudha Arabandi, National Initiatives & Communications Associate and Rupsikha Baruah, Communication Associate
This Mother’s Day, we’re pausing to recognise something we see every day in the early learning space — that some of the most important learning doesn’t start in schools or Anganwadis. It starts at home. And often, with a mother. Whether it’s a toddler learning about shapes while watching her mother fold a samosa, or a young boy explaining what he learned at the Anganwadi that morning — these moments are the building blocks of ECCE. They’re informal, powerful, and almost always led by women.
We looked at the data — children aged 0–3.5 years in Solapur and Chandigarh saw 12% better developmental outcomes when their mothers had access to smartphones. And 90% of our respondents were mothers. That’s not a coincidence — it’s a sign. Mothers are already central to the ECCE ecosystem. We just need to meet them there.
That’s why we believe: “Har Anganwadi, Har Ghar — Ab Ban Raha Hai Tayyari Ka Centre.”
When the centre and the home work together, a child’s learning becomes seamless — and far more powerful. ECCE strategy needs policy, partnerships, and play-based pedagogy. But it also needs empathy — and the humility to remember that sometimes, the most scalable impact begins with a mother and a mobile phone.
This Mother’s Day, we honour those stories — and the women who make them happen every single day.
Mrs. Bharti, a Parent from Faridabad says, “Children today love to learn through play — it’s so different from our time, when learning was more traditional and focused on textbooks. I’ve seen how much more they enjoy it this way, and I’m learning too! For example, instead of just telling them ‘this is a triangle,’ we now show them how a triangle is formed and where they can see triangles in real life. That hands-on, playful approach makes learning more interesting and meaningful for them.”
Mrs. Ramvati, a parent from Faridabad says, “Even though we’re the ones meant to be teaching our children, we end up learning so much from them as well. It’s a beautiful process — learning with them and through them.”
Mrs. Beena, an Anganwadi Worker says, “Parents are now more mindful of their children’s daily schedule at the Anganwadi. They know the importance of getting their child here by 9 AM and picking them up by 12 PM. What’s even more heartwarming is that parents are engaging more at home — doing activities with their kids. The children also talk about what they’ve learned at the centre, and parents often tell us how their child has become more active and enthusiastic!”