Promoting Serve and Return Interactions: A Guide for Infant and Toddler Educators

Build relationships and belonging with serve and return interactions. Serve and return interactions--when an infant initiates and a caregiver responds--are the cornerstone of healthy relationships and growing social-emotional skills. Serve and return interactions happen throughout the day, during play, routines, meals, and every form of give-and-take communication. Learning to recognize these opportunities and attune your responses will help you connect with each child in your care and best support their learning, growth, development, and belonging. Featuring dozens of vignettes, Promoting Serve and Return Interactions also provides reflective questions and advice for planning serve and return activities, tailoring them to each child, and working with families to give every child the best possible foundation for their future.