The experts at “The Brain Architects Podcast” focus on that in their newest episode. The podcast is done by the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University.

How does serve and return work?

Center director Dr. Jack Shonkoff explains. 

“One, it helps shape and model brain connections, the other is the extent to which a baby doesn’t get that interaction, it triggers a stress response in the brain,” Shonkoff says. 

At the end of the day it’s about knowing your baby and finding a way of interacting that comfortable for you and your family, Shonkoff says. 

Don’t feel pressured to spend huge chunks of time devoted to elaborate interactions with your young child. The most important thing is to make the most of the time you can spend with your child time.

Sarah Ryan, director of Life Skills at Julie’s Family Learning Program, which works with young moms, says she tells parents to think of it as “adding one thing” -- talk about the color of something, point to something new, add a sound that a toy makes -- to what you are saying to your baby. 

“When they realize they can do and they have every tool they need already to grow their children’s brains, it’s really exciting to watch young moms come alive and it makes them excited to do more of it,” Ryan says. 

And it’s most powerful when it starts with the child, says Dr. Phil Fisher.

He is the Philip H. Knight Chair and Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon, and director of the Center for Translational Neuroscience.

It’s what SCI’s friends at the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health call “Tune In”: Pay attention to what your baby or toddler is focused on and respond to that with words and attention. 

Young children's brains struggle to shift focus the way older children's brains can. So work with what they give you. If they are following a block or toy, follow it, too, and build your serve and return around that.