FLN in Early Childhood Education: Essential Strategies and Solutions

90% of brain development is completed in the first five years of a child’s life. This is a crucial and tiny window for early childhood education (ECE). 

As a specialised approach, ECE focuses on children’s developmental needs from birth to age eight.
It forms the bedrock of a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. 

The overarching goal remains the same—to set the stage for lifelong learning and development. 

Among the core pillars of early childhood education is Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)—the ability to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic. Ensuring young learners grasp these skills early remains a key focus for educators because it nurtures their potential, empowering them to thrive academically and socially.

In this guide, we take a closer look at early childhood education in an Indian context and focus on how digital learning via expert-driven learning platforms can deliver excellent outcomes.

Early Childhood Education: India’s Progress

UNICEF India suggests that approximately 80% of children aged 3 to 6 years are now enrolled in some form of ECE programme. 

However, there are significant variations in enrollment across states, from 43.7% in Uttar Pradesh to 86.6% in Karnataka.

Despite this, we’ve witnessed a significant shift in government initiatives to further the goals of ECE programmes:

• NEP: The National Education Policy transitioned from the traditional 10+2 structure to a more developmentally aligned 5+3+3+4 system. This is recognition that children learn differently at various stages, especially during those crucial foundational years (ages 3-8).
• NIPUN Bharat and NISTHA FLN: The NIPUN Bharat initiative, launched in July 2021, further strengthened India’s commitment to early learning with NISTHA FLN to ensure every child achieves FLN by Grade 3. 
• Increased Enrollment: In fact, the ASER 2024 report found that between 2018 and 2024, the percentage of 3-year-olds enrolled in pre-school or ECE centres increased from 68.1% to nearly 80%, and for 4-year-olds, from 76.0% to approximately 85%.

The Importance of Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education is the foundation that shapes everything that follows. Here’s why it matters so much:

First Five Years Are Critical

As we noted, the human brain builds most of its neural connections in the first five years of a child’s life. 

During these formative years, children develop cognitive and motor skills needed for problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking at an astonishing rate. 

This opportunity must be utilised to the fullest. 

How Does Early Education Build Social-Emotional Skills?

Early education goes beyond ABCs and 123s. It’s where children learn to share, work in teams, show empathy, and communicate effectively – skills that will serve them throughout life.

Can Quality ECE Reduce Educational Disparities?

According to UNICEF, the richest children are 7 times more likely to attend ECE programmes than the poorest children. Similarly, children of mothers with secondary education are 5 times more likely to participate in ECE programmes. 

Quality early education helps level the playing field, giving every child a fair start.

Early Childhood Education: The Role of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

When we talk about FLN, we’re talking about the building blocks for all future learning. Without these skills, children often struggle in higher grades, leading to a cycle of academic challenges and diminished confidence.

However, the state of FLN in India gives us reason for concern. 

ASER reports revealed that only 21% of Grade 1 students had foundational literacy skills and just 29.3% had necessary numeracy skills in 2019. 

More worryingly, the percentage of Class 3 students who could read at a Class 2 level fell from 27.3% in 2018 to 20.5% in 2022.

To address these challenges, the National Curriculum Framework outlines three key developmental goals:

• Physical and motor development
• Socio-emotional and cognitive development
• Language and literacy development

These goals are supported by 57 specific learning outcomes designed to build strong foundations in the early years. 

Additionally, NIPUN Bharat’s mission makes it clear—every child should achieve foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3, recognising that these skills nurture the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities essential throughout life.

Early Childhood Education Strategies: 7 Ways Educators Can Foster FLN in Schools

Now, let us take a closer look at some strategies future-ready educators can adopt to promote FLN among learners:

1. Interactive and Play-Based Learning

Play isn’t just fun – it’s how children make sense of the world. Interactive games, storytelling, and role-play make foundational literacy and numeracy come alive for young learners.

In fact, the Central Square Foundation report notes that the early childhood education curriculum mandates 30 minutes of play time daily.

Think about it – counting toys, creating stories with puppets, or singing rhyming songs. These aren’t just enjoyable activities; they’re powerful learning tools that engage children’s natural curiosity.

2. Multisensory Teaching Methods

Children learn best when they can see, touch, and hear their lessons. By incorporating visual aids, tactile activities, and songs or rhymes, teachers help develop both gross and fine motor skills while enhancing comprehension of FLN concepts.

Activities like tracing letters in sand, building number towers with blocks, or acting out stories help children connect abstract concepts with concrete experiences, making learning stick.

3. Individualised Attention

Every child blooms at their own pace. Some grasp counting quickly but need extra help with letter sounds. Others may be early readers who struggle with number concepts. Personalised learning approaches honour these differences.

However, capacity remains a challenge—UNICEF reports that only 50% of pre-primary teachers in low-income countries are trained, and only 5% of pre-primary teachers globally work in low-income countries. 

These highlight the urgent need for more qualified early childhood educators who can provide the individualised support children need.

4. Teacher Training

The magic of early education happens largely through skilled teachers. Anganwadi workers, who provide early childhood education in many marginalised communities, often juggle multiple responsibilities—from nutrition monitoring to administrative work.

Investing in comprehensive training programmes helps these dedicated educators balance their many roles while delivering quality instruction. When teachers understand child development and effective teaching strategies, they can create transformative learning experiences even with limited resources.

5. Parental Involvement

Parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers. Schools can bridge the home-school gap by:

• Organising workshops that show parents how to reinforce FLN skills through everyday activities
• Creating simple take-home activities that extend classroom learning
• Supporting learning in the child’s mother tongue to strengthen comprehension and communication

When parents understand how to count objects during cooking, point out letters on signs, or ask questions during bedtime stories, they create countless informal learning moments.

6. Use of Technology

We may no longer afford to ignore the positive side of digital technology in education. 

Thoughtfully designed technology can make quality educational content accessible even in resource-constrained settings. 

• Solutions like Learning TV for Anganwadi centres provide consistent, engaging lessons aligned with curriculum standards.
• Digital content matched to the NCF’s learning outcomes ensures quality while reducing preparation burdens on teachers. 

Technology allows teachers to focus on interacting with children and addressing individual needs.

7. Classroom Activities and Assessments

How do we know if children are learning? 

Structured assessments addressing specific learning objectives help track progress without causing stress. Image-based assessments make evaluation feel like another engaging activity while providing teachers with insights to guide their teaching.

Regular, child-friendly assessments help identify strengths to celebrate and areas needing more attention, ensuring no child falls behind.

Success Spotlight: Uttar Pradesh’s Structured Approach to Early Learning

States like Uttar Pradesh have implemented structured pedagogy approaches in Grades 1 to 3, adapting successful strategies for ECE. 

Notably, a 12-week school readiness curriculum has been developed for the Balvatika grade (ages 5 to 6) in co-located Anganwadis, aiming to better prepare children for formal schooling.

3 Major Challenges in Early Childhood Education

So, what are the roadblocks an early childhood education programme must deal with? Let’s take a look:

1. Access and Equity Issues

Despite its importance, early childhood education faces significant hurdles. 

Access remains deeply unequal—UNICEF reports that children in urban areas are 1.5 times more likely to attend ECE programmes than those in rural areas. 

On the other hand, UNESCO notes that a 7% increase in pre-primary participation could be achieved simply by implementing fee-setting regulations.

2. Resource and Training Constraints

In Anganwadi centres, dedicated workers juggle multiple responsibilities with limited time for structured teaching. The shortage of trained educators—particularly in low-income areas—creates a significant barrier to quality education for many children.

3. Curriculum Implementation Challenges

Central Square Foundation report underlines that many educators struggle with complicated curriculum handbooks that require extensive cross-referencing, making lesson planning unnecessarily complex. 

Without simplified, practical guidance, even motivated teachers find it difficult to deliver effective FLN instruction.

These challenges aren’t just administrative issues—they directly impact children’s learning opportunities during their most formative years.

9 Ways iDream Education Firmly Supports FLN in Early Childhood Education

As a leading learning platform, iDream Education offers iPrep, a learning super app. It comes with a suite of features designed to support FLN in early childhood education. 

These components are meticulously aligned with India’s National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and NCERT guidelines, ensuring a structured and engaging learning experience for young learners.​

Some of the key offerings include:

1. Play-Based Learning Content

iPrep offers joyful, interactive and personalised content that makes learning feel like play. Its activities, puzzles, and worksheets connect with age-appropriate learning objectives, making education engaging rather than a chore.

• Stories and Rhymes: Engaging narratives and poems that foster language development and listening skills.​
• Interactive Activities and Games: Designed to enhance sensory perceptions, instil healthy habits, and promote cognitive flexibility.​
• Visual and Performing Arts Modules: Encourage self-expression and creativity through various art forms.​

The platform has a variety of digital resources, including animated video lessons, interactive practice questions, syllabus books, notes, DIY projects, and practicals. Everything is designed to cater to different learning styles and preferences.​

Learn More:

2. Structured Assessment Solutions

iDream education provides comprehensive assessment tools aligned with the NCF’s developmental goals, helping teachers track progress systematically and identify learning gaps early. 

These image-based assessments make evaluation engaging for young learners while providing actionable insights for educators.

3. Competency-Based Learning Approach

The platform’s content is organised around 13 competencies derived from the NCF’s three developmental goals:​

• Good Health and Well-being: Activities that promote physical fitness, emotional intelligence, and environmental awareness.​
• Effective Communication: Modules focusing on language skills, including reading and writing in multiple languages.​
• Engagement with the Environment: Lessons that develop mathematical understanding and logical thinking through real-world exploration.​
  

4. Age-Appropriate Learning 

Our digital education content is tailored for different preschool stages—Preschool 1 (PS1), Preschool 2 (PS2), Preschool 3-Balvatika (PS3)—and includes the Vidya Pravesh module to prepare children for Grade 1.​

5. Multi-Device Compatibility

iPrep’s digital content is accessible across various devices, including tablets, laptops, and smartphones. 

It also has offline support for a seamless learning experience even in remote areas with fluctuating internet connections. 

6. Integrated Reporting and Analytics

The platform features offline student-wise, subject-wise, and language-wise usage reports with periodic synchronisation to a reporting dashboard. 

Educators and stakeholders can monitor individual student progress and content engagement effectively.​

7. Regional Language Support

UNICEF has noted the vital role of mother tongue instruction in early years. 

Aligned with this, iPrep provides content in regional languages, making foundational concepts more accessible to young learners across diverse linguistic backgrounds. At present, the platform offers digital learning content and interfaces in: 

• English​
• Hindi​
• Marathi​
• Gujarati​
• Tamil​
• Telugu​
• Kannada​
• Bengali​
• Oriya

8. Multi-Grade Access

The platform provides access to content across all grades within a single subscription, allowing learners to revisit previous topics or explore advanced material as needed.​

9. Simplified Teacher Resources

iPrep addresses the challenge of complicated teacher handbooks by breaking down developmental goals into age-appropriate competencies with clear learning objectives. 

Each lesson is complete in itself, eliminating the need for cross-referencing and saving valuable teacher time.

Takeaway

Early childhood education isn’t just another educational stage—it’s the foundation upon which a child’s future is built. By prioritising foundational literacy and numeracy in these formative years, we unlock children’s potential for lifelong success. 

As educators, parents, and stakeholders join hands to overcome challenges, iDream Education can help ensure every child develops the essential skills they need to thrive.

To learn more, reach out to us at +91 7678265039. You can also share your details here or write to us at share@idreameducation.org 

FAQs

1. What age group does early childhood education cover? 

Early childhood education typically covers children from 3 to 8 years of age. This period is recognised globally as the most critical phase for brain development and building foundational skills.

2. Why is early childhood education important for brain development? 

A child’s brain develops 90% of its capacity by age five, making these early years crucial for cognitive growth. During this time, millions of neural connections form through stimulating experiences, creating the foundation for all future learning.

3. How does foundational literacy and numeracy impact later academic success? 

Strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills serve as building blocks for all future learning across subjects. Children who master these basics early are less likely to struggle in higher grades and more likely to complete their education successfully.

4. What role do parents play in early childhood education? 

Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers, creating countless learning opportunities through everyday activities and conversations. Their involvement reinforces classroom learning and helps children connect concepts across different environments, significantly boosting educational outcomes.