Dost Education’s Talk, Care, Play convening brought together educators, caregivers, system leaders, and partners to examine how conversation, play, and emotional connection shape early childhood development, with Richa Shukla, CEO of Dost Education, saying practical support for caregivers can turn everyday routines into meaningful learning experiences for young children.
Responsive caregiving and early learning took centre stage at Talk, Care, Play, a convening hosted by Dost Education that brought together educators, caregivers, system leaders, and partners to discuss how everyday family interactions can support early childhood development in India.
The half day gathering focused on the role of conversation, play, and emotional connection in strengthening early language development and improving school readiness. The event opened with a presentation by Dost Education on responsive caregiving, highlighting research and insights on how consistent engagement between caregivers and young children helps build strong foundations for learning in the early years.
Participants also took part in interactive play sessions designed to show simple and practical ways caregivers can bring learning into everyday routines. The sessions reflected the organisation’s focus on making early learning tools accessible and usable within daily family life.
The convening included two panel discussions on themes shaping early childhood development in the country. The first explored how systems and institutions can better support playful parenting and equip caregivers with the tools and confidence needed to nurture learning at home as a pathway to school readiness. The second focused on shared caregiving and examined the importance of bringing fathers more actively into the care economy and children’s early learning journeys.
Throughout the event, participants stressed the need to place caregivers at the centre of early learning strategies, recognising that a child’s first classroom is often the home and the everyday moments shared with family members.
Dost Education works with families of children aged 0 to 6 through its Talk, Care, Play framework, offering research backed tools to help caregivers support early language and cognitive development. The organisation uses digital platforms including audio based parenting support and WhatsApp enabled engagement, while also working with frontline Anganwadi workers and community circles to expand access to early learning resources for families across India.
To date, Dost Education said it has reached more than 5.5 lakh families across 9 states. It added that a majority of participating caregivers reported increased engagement in talking, reading, and playing with their children, while many children in these families showed measurable improvement in language development.
Richa Shukla, CEO of Dost Education, said, “Early learning begins in the everyday moments between caregivers and children in conversation, in play, and in shared curiosity. When parents are supported with simple and practical tools, they gain the confidence to turn routine interactions into meaningful learning experiences. ‘Talk, Care, Play’ is about recognizing caregivers as a child’s first and most important teachers.”
The convening concluded with networking and community engagement, underlining the role of collaboration among educators, caregivers, and system leaders in strengthening early childhood development and widening access to supportive learning environments for young children.
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