Serve and Return
Did you know that serve and return interactions are one of the building blocks of the growing and developing brain? When you have a back-and-forth interaction with a child, this is called serve and return. It is similar to an active conversation where one person talks and the other listens before sharing their thoughts.
It is essential that adults focus on talking with children and not at children during these interactions. Although it can be challenging to listen more than we speak, this is an essential step in the serve and return process. For example, when a child is lying on the changing table kicking their legs and babbling, we would pause and then respond to them. After our response, we would wait, listen and watch the child for their response.
Below you will find resources to help you develop your serve and return skills:
A Guide to Serve and Return: How Your Interaction with Children Can Build Brains
5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return
