V. Menaka, a mother from Lachivakkam village in Tiruvallur district, was unaware that her two-year-old son was less active than other children. "He used to keep to himself, wasn’t very playful, and always stayed close to me. But I thought that was normal," she recalled. Her view changed when workers from the Bala Mandir Research and Resource Centre (BMRRC) visited her under their Early Childhood Care and Development and Education (ECCDE) programme. The staff explained the importance of brain development in the first six years and encouraged her to enroll her child in the anganwadi. Months later, her son began playing with other children and is now thriving in Class 1 at a private school. "He now makes friends so easily and is eager to go to school," said Menaka. Started in 2014 with help from Michelin Tyres, the ECCDE programme initially faced hesitation from rural parents who saw anganwadis mainly as nutrition centres. Bindu R., director of BMRRC, explained, "At the outset, anganwadis existed primarily as centres for nutrition for pregnant and lactating mothers. Later, the concept of early childhood care and development was introduced. Rural residents were initially hesitant to send their children there." The programme provides training to anganwadi staff and women from local villages. It shares the SPRUC framework, focusing on sense of self, physical development, relationships, understanding, and communication. These help parents engage children with games and activities that promote growth. During home visits, workers talk to pregnant women about nutrition and health. They also advise parents on spending quality time with their children. "Everybody knows what to do with children, but they don’t always know why they are doing it," noted Bindu. ECCDE staff train anganwadi teachers, conduct door-to-door visits, and hold community sessions every three months. The programme now covers 134 villages in Gummidipoondi and Ellapuram blocks. Over 2,500 parents and caregivers receive support annually, and 132 women are employed as staff. An anganwadi teacher from Lachivakkam said, "Admissions to our centre have increased recently. It has been great to have more help in teaching the children. Even if we are called for duty elsewhere, we are at peace knowing that the children’s education is not disrupted." The ECCDE programme continues to strengthen early childhood care, encouraging parents and communities to nurture children’s development from the start.