Dost Education, a leading early childhood nonprofit, will host “Talk, Care, Play” on 9th March, bringing together educators, caregivers, system leaders, and partners to advance responsive and playful caregiving practices in India. The half-day convening will focus on strengthening early language development through everyday interactions between parents and young children, highlighting how simple acts of talk, care, and play at home can significantly improve school readiness and long-term learning outcomes.
India continues to face a foundational learning crisis, with many children entering primary school without strong language and early literacy skills. Research consistently shows that children whose caregivers engage them in frequent conversations and responsive interactions in the early years demonstrate stronger language abilities by age three regardless of socioeconomic background. “Talk, Care, Play” aims to place caregivers at the center of the early learning movement, reinforcing that a child’s development begins long before formal schooling.
Dost Education works with families of children aged 0–6 to build strong foundations for school and life through its Talk, Care, Play framework. The organization reaches caregivers through accessible digital tools such as audio-based Phonecasts and WhatsApp-enabled engagement, while also partnering with frontline Anganwadi workers to support community-based learning and peer circles for mothers and fathers.
To date, Dost has reached over 5 lakh families across 9 states. A majority of participating families report increased engagement in talking, reading, and playing with their children, with measurable improvements in early language development among participating children.
The event will feature a presentation on responsive caregiving, interactive play sessions, and two panel discussions one focused on building systems to support playful parenting, and another on shared caregiving and engaging fathers more actively in early childhood development.
Richa Shukla, CEO of Dost Education, said:
“Early learning does not begin in a classroom it begins in conversation, in play, and in everyday moments between caregivers and children. When we equip parents with simple, research-backed tools and the confidence to use them, we create lasting change in children’s lives. ‘Talk, Care, Play’ is about recognizing caregivers as a child’s first and most important teachers.”
Through this convening, Dost Education seeks to deepen collaboration across stakeholders and accelerate a caregiver-centered approach to early childhood development in India.
