Webinar on the First 1,000 Days and Beyond: Early Childhood Care and Education in India

Azimji Premji University organised a webinar on ‘The First 1,000 Days and Beyond: Early Childhood Care and Education in India’ on Wednesday, 04 December 2024. Ms. Rahila Anjum (Assistant Teacher Nursery) of Salwan Public School, Mayur Vihar attended the webinar.
The panelists of the day were, Ms. Kinnari Pandya, Child Development Professor at Azimji Premji University, Mr Rishikesh B S, Professor at Azimji Premji University and Dr. Satish Pandya, a Consultant Pediatrician, Adolescent Expert, and Counselor at Varun Complete Healthcare LLP, Vadodara.

The workshop began with an introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) by the panelist, Ms. Kinnari, who welcomed the guest speaker, Mr. Satish Pandya.

Dr. Pandya emphasized the significance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, a critical phase for brain development. Drawing on his extensive experience, he highlighted how modern children are becoming more tech-savvy and mature but noted alarming trends such as 43% of children being obese or poorly nourished. He also addressed challenges like delayed development in children from dual-income households, where limited parental involvement can result in feelings of guilt among parents. Dr. Pandya stressed the need for parental training, a resource currently unavailable in India.

Ms. Kinnari and Mr. Rishikesh discussed strategies to support children’s growth, including understanding their needs, managing stress, and spending quality time with them. The webinar concluded with Ms. Kinnari introducing a new course, ‘M.A. in Early Childhood Education’, launched by Azim Premji University to promote deeper knowledge in ECCE.

Overall, the session highlighted the challenges in ECCE, exploring ways to make the most of current resources while identifying innovative ways to support and enhance early childhood care and education.