Serve and Return

"Serve and return interactions make everyday moments fun and become second nature with practice. By taking small moments during the day to do serve and return, you build up the foundation for children's lifelong learning, behavior, and health—and their skills for facing life's challenges." This from Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (FIND).

"Child-adult relationships that are responsive and attentive—with lots of back and forth interactions—build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development. This is called 'serve and return,' and it takes two to play! Follow these 5 steps to practice serve and return with your child.

• Notice the serve and share the child's focus of attention.
• Return the serve by supporting and encouraging.
• Give it a name!
• Take turns...and wait. Keep the interaction going back and forth.
• Practice endings and beginnings."

Source: Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (FIND) (Harvard University Center on the Developing Child)

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