Photo courtesy of FIND.īuilding the capabilities of adult caregivers can help strengthen the environment of relationships essential to children’s lifelong learning, health, and behavior. A breakdown in reciprocal serve and return interactions between adult caregivers and young children can be the result of many factors. The FIND program uses video coaching to strengthen serve and return interactions between caregivers and children. The persistent absence of serve and return interaction acts as a “double whammy” for healthy development: not only does the brain not receive the positive stimulation it needs, but the body’s stress response is activated, flooding the developing brain with potentially harmful stress hormones. If an adult’s responses to a child are unreliable, inappropriate, or simply absent, the developing architecture of the brain may be disrupted, and subsequent physical, mental, and emotional health may be impaired. Healthy brain architecture depends on a sturdy foundation built by appropriate input from a child’s senses and stable, responsive relationships with caring adults. Also available in Spanish.īecause responsive relationships are both expected and essential, their absence is a serious threat to a child’s development and well-being.
This simple five-step guide helps parents and caregivers learn how to “do” serve and return with children. When caregivers are sensitive and responsive to a young child’s signals and needs, they provide an environment rich in serve and return experiences. Much like a lively game of tennis, volleyball, or Ping-Pong, this back-and-forth is both fun and capacity-building.
When an infant or young child babbles, gestures, or cries, and an adult responds appropriately with eye contact, words, or a hug, neural connections are built and strengthened in the child’s brain that support the development of communication and social skills. Serve and return interactions shape brain architecture. This how-to video breaks down serve and return into 5 simple steps and features adults and young children doing each step together. Video: Building Babies' Brains Through Play Video: Serve & Return Shapes Brain Circuitry Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships