Notice what your child is paying attention to and share their focus of attention. For example, look at what your child is pointing at or showing you.
Research by the Harvard Center on the Developing Child shows that "
When an infant or young child babbles, gestures, or cries, and an adult responds appropriately with eye contact, words, or a hug, neural connections are built and strengthened in the child’s brain that supports the development of communication and social skills.
The persistent absence of "serve and return" interaction acts as a “double whammy” for healthy development. Not only does the brain not receive the positive stimulation it needs, but the body’s stress response is activated, flooding the developing brain with potentially harmful stress hormones.