A Study of Preschool Child Growth Services in India

The changes in the social and economic structure of India have intensified the need for universal early Preschool Child education. The formidable challenges before the Indian Government are: to provide high quality early Preschool Child education programs; to preserve indigenous practices such as multilingualism, family/community involvement, participation of older children as caretakers of their younger siblings; and to provide early Preschool Child education to all children despite serious financial constraints. This article presents a brief overview of the traditional childrearing practices in India, chronicles government initiatives in early Preschool Child education, describes the range of programs available in India, and identifies goals that will shape the future of early Preschool Child programs in India.