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How Parents’ Interactions Shape a Baby’s Brain

Parents are their children’s first teachers. Through everyday interactions and activities, parents can support their children’s brain development. Following a child’s lead and responding appropriately also creates lasting bonds between children and their caregivers. This important concept is called “Serve and Return.”Learn more below.

Harvard Center on the Developing Child: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return

This how-to video breaks down serve and return into five simple steps and features adults and young children doing each step together.

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Harvard Center on the Developing Child: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return

Download Handout on Serve and Return


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