India faces increasing concerns regarding neurodevelopmental disorders, with nearly one in eight children potentially affected. The first 1,000 days of life are critical for brain development, and global early intervention strategies emphasize caregiver involvement and enriched environments. However, implementing these strategies in community settings is challenging due to the lack of accessible specialized training for grassroots workers. Notably, many traditional Indian caregiving practices reflect these global principles but are often undocumented.

A study explored Indian child-rearing practices aligned with evidence-based early intervention and aimed to develop culturally relevant video resources for training Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA). Eleven focus group discussions with 121 mothers and grandmothers across various regions revealed that practices like massage, floor play, lullabies, and face-to-face interaction align closely with global early intervention principles.

The resulting videos, created from these traditional practices, received positive feedback from caregivers and experts for their clarity and cultural relevance. By documenting and simplifying these nurturing routines, the initiative bridges traditional wisdom with modern science, empowering families and ASHA workers to enhance children’s development effectively at home.