Practise endings and beginnings. Notice when your child has started or ended an activity and let them take the lead on determining the start and end, where possible. Following your child's lead helps them to explore the world as well as creates more "serve and return" interactions.
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.