We have begun implementing the serve and return strategy to establish child-adult connections that are responsive and attentive with lots of back-and-forth interaction which helps to build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development.

Following the guide of the 5 steps to practice serve and return with children, we are able to connect with children in meaningful and responsive interaction.

1. Notice the serve and share the child's focus of attention

WHY? By noticing serves, you’ll learn a lot about a child’s abilities, interests, and needs. You’ll encourage her to explore and you’ll strengthen the bond between you.

2. Return the serve by supporting and encouraging

WHY? Supporting and encouraging rewards a child’s interests and curiosity. Never getting a return can actually be stressful for a child. When you return the serve, the child knows that his thoughts and feelings are heard and understood.

3. Give it a name!

WHY? When you name what a child is focused on, you help her understand the world around her and help her know what to expect. Naming also gives her words to use herself and lets her know you care.

4.  Take turns…and wait. Keep the interaction going back and forth.

WHY? Taking turns helps children learn self-control and how to get along with others. By waiting, you give the child time to develop his ideas and build his confidence and independence. Waiting also helps you understand his needs.

5. Practice endings and beginnings

WHY? When you can find moments for a child to take the lead, you support her in exploring her world—and make more serve and return interactions possible.

We also understood the we do not have to engage with a child all the time; a child also needs his own time which allow for self-discovery. However, when you engage we need to ensure it's meaningful!

To support in a baby's interaction we educators also include 

Ø Praise ​

Ø Imitation ​

Ø Description ​

Ø Active listening 

Baby Talk!  This is something that all adults should refrain from doing when communicating with babies. Toddlers and babies often invent their own (adorable) versions of words.​

Because they are still learning to pronounce, they will create words that sound similar or related. ​

But adults using baby talk to communicate with young children are strongly NOT acceptable or encouraged.​

Because…​

Ø NO MEANING ​

Ø Slow down learning ​

Ø Affects the language development ​

Ø Confusion​

Ø Delay in speech​

 

We work closely with parents and strongly encourage them to begin engaging in serve and return interactions in early infancy to start  building the foundation of neural pathways. We create opportunities for our parents to support and engage in serve and return interactions with their child at home by providing Termly Take-Home activities that promotes creative ways to keep the interactions going. 

Through these, we believe that parents understand that by spending time with their child, and learning what their cues and actions mean at every age, they’ll continue to find ways to build a healthy relationship with them.  

 

How have you implemented/incorporated these practices in your centre?