Infants and toddlers naturally reach out and talk through babbling facial expressions and movements, and adults respond back in the same or similar way.

So this back and forth response process is incredibly important to the wiring of the brain, especially in the earliest years. Responsive adults encourage, “serve and return” (taking turns – like playing tennis!) by noticing and responding to a child’s emotional signals.

Adults need to aim to be in tune with their children. They follow the child’s lead and respond and match the interest that the child is showing during play.

Responsive carers are consistent and provide warm encouragement and support by being responsive. In these ways, carers are providing a secure base from which children can extend their play.

This film and article will give you a few ideas about becoming a more responsive partner to the children.

In everyday situations there are lots of opportunities to really watch what babies and children do to communicate with us, even if this isn’t by using words.

Look at how they’re communicating. Are they looking at you in the eye & smiling? Or frowning, looking startled, turning towards or away from you? Waving their arms and legs when you talk? Are they moving their mouth? Do they make little sounds? Do they babble?

There are so many ways of communicating and you can identify them all if you practice observing carefully.

This is the clever bit. Now, you’ve seen and observed all of these attempts at communication. What do they mean? What are they trying to tell you? You now need to interpret them.

Children communicate all sorts of things. Some will be physical, for example, “I’m hungry/ thirsty, /tired” and so on.

Are they “communicating” that they are happy or in a grumpy mood? Do they want to play? Are they wanting some affection and a cuddle? Are they interested in something? Or are they bored? Or are they frustrated by something?

Remember, babies and toddlers are just like adults in that they experience a whole range of emotions. Unlike adults, they don’t have the words to say how they’re feeling, and they rely on adults to understand and interpret what they are feeling and to help to regulate them and identify what they need.

The third element is for the adults to quickly, consistently and gently meet their needs. This can be meeting their physical needs. For example, changing a nappy or rocking them to sleep. Or it can be an emotional need, for example, providing them with a “serve and return”, or “a backwards and forward” interaction, or giving them an interesting toy. By recognising what a baby or child is communicating and making your actions meet those needs, you’re building a child who is secure, which is a vital part of their development.

Enjoying by learning how to observe, interpret and act, you’ll be well on the way to becoming a responsive carer.