[stephanie]

You can create serve and return by being supportive about the children’s interest whether that be in their interest or activities and also expressing positive emotions.

[Miriam Frazier]

responding back to child when showing you something. for example if the child is playing with Legos and they build an ice cream . you respond by saying wow what flavor ?

[Cheree]

I think circle time is a great way for children serve and return and you can play games too

[Natalie Cowan]

I think arts and crafts are a great way to serve and return with the children. You can ask them questions and they can explain what they are doing and why.

[Irene Brewster]

Early learning providers can create a “serve and return” environment in their classrooms through activities that create responsive interactions when playing together such as circle time

[Erica]

By offering a variety of options to children and giving access allows them to explore. Through exploring, children will show interest. This allows teachers to positively respond and be supportive.

[Jenny Brown]

A serve in return environment can be fostered through song, story-telling, responding to the cues of children. Peek-a-boo is a great example of a serve and return game.

[Jazmin]

How do you think early learning providers can create a “serve and return” environment in their classrooms?

I have found that when the entire group of pretoddlers are starting to do things they know they shouldn’t, start showing intense emotion and overall seem to be ridden with something they can’t process. I think the highest points when this happens is either bright and early in the morning, right before any feeding times, and especially right before nap time. Although it is understandable for any teacher to get overwhelmed in those moments, it is our job to realize these signs and show them ways to decompress, while also keeping ourselves centered. I think it is very helpful as a teacher, to understand these high stress times throughout the day. If you really pay attention, they almost happen like clock-work. Getting that schedule down and a healthy decompress cycle can do wonders for your classroom. Realizing common high stress times, getting into action and helping them understand their feelings has significant impact. I love to do general songs, phrases, or actions that will capture their attention as a group and help center them. Even if it’s only for a few moments, that split second of pulling them out of their funk and gathering that attention can help everyone in the room. Something I do that works, when I correct negative behavior, I always follow it with something positive. Explaining why we don’t do certain things, and then right after, showing them the right ways to go about them. It’s something I have found that works very well for me, and also carries out the perfect balance of serve and return! (:

[Hellen capelle]

I think when its circle time that’s when its the best serve and return together with the kids.

[Michelle Farmer]

I believe that we can serve and return by noticing something that they might be interested and engaging them in the activity and have a back and forth dialog about it.

[Priyadharshini P V]

I think the ‘serve and return’ environment can be attained in circle times.

Each child will be given an opportunity to speak what they feel and also listen to their friends.

this promotes the understanding of their own need and of others.

[Tamara Dykstra]

One of the best ways I feel my classroom can do the serve and return is when we are doing our dance and movement circle time. All the children have their own they stand on for their own personal space. The children always remind each other with kind words and smiles thank you for staying on your mat. When the music starts for movement time the children and the teachers try mirror the action the songs tells them to do. The teacher face is always full of joy, smiles, and laughter when trying to do certain fun movements. As the children do their best following along they always ask if they can help other children by showing how to do dance movements if one of their fellow friends may need extra asstiance or encourgement.

[Stephanie]

An activity that early learning providers can create a serve and return could be during an art activity. The provider can walk around to students and talk about what the child is making, what color they are using, comment on what they are doing, etc.

[Jennifer Marcial]

The Early learning providers can do activities with the kids like playing to create a (Serve and Return) environment.

[Avery Hanneman]

I think caregivers can provide a serve and return by quickly and appropriately responding to a child, when they point out something in a book, don’t just keep reading and move on, you should respond to the child and answer their curiosity