Why we do it

Parenting is hard. No matter how resourced you are, raising a child can be one of life's most challenging and rewarding experiences. But parenting can also be a great equalizer - regardless of income, race, or education, all parents face stress and challenges. And when that stress becomes chronic and toxic, it can have long-lasting effects on children's health and well-being.

But there is hope. By building supportive communities and practicing positive parenting techniques, we can help to buffer the effects of toxic stress on child development and reduce the effects of stress on the body for life.

What is toxic stress?

Toxic stress is defined as "the experience of prolonged activation of the stress response system in the absence of protective factors." This type of stress can be caused by a variety of factors, including abuse, neglect, and poverty. When a child experiences toxic stress, it can have negative impacts on their physical and mental health, including increased risk of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and developmental delays.

How does community support help?

One of the key ways that community support can help to buffer the effects of toxic stress is by providing a network of resources and support for parents. When parents feel supported and connected to others, they are better able to manage stress and provide a nurturing environment for their children.

Studies have shown that social support can help to reduce the effects of stress on the body, including inflammation and immune system dysfunction. For example, a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that mothers who reported higher levels of social support had lower levels of inflammation, even after accounting for factors such as age, income, and education.

In addition, community support can help to address the social determinants of health that contribute to toxic stress. For example, by providing access to affordable housing, healthcare, and early childhood education, communities can help to reduce the stressors that contribute to toxic stress.

How do positive parenting practices help?

Supportive parenting practices can also help to buffer the effects of toxic stress on child development. These practices include things like responsive caregiving, positive reinforcement, and setting clear boundaries and expectations.

One of the key ways that positive parenting practices can help to reduce the effects of stress on the body is by promoting secure attachment between parent and child. When children feel securely attached to their parents, they are better able to regulate their emotions and respond to stress in a healthy way.

Studies have shown that supportive parenting practices can buffer the effects of toxic stress on child development and mental health outcomes. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that supportive parenting practices can reduce the risk of behavioral problems and other negative outcomes associated with toxic stress.

In addition, positive parenting practices can help to build resilience in children. When children have a strong foundation of positive parenting, they are better able to navigate the stressors of life and bounce back from adversity.

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Parenting is hard, but by building supportive communities and practicing positive parenting techniques, we can help to buffer the effects of toxic stress on child development and reduce the effects of stress on the body for life. Social support can help to reduce the effects of stress on the body, while positive parenting practices can promote secure attachment and build resilience in children. By working together to support parents and families, we can help to promote healthy communities and positive developmental outcomes for children.

Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships

Parenting can feel overwhelming at times. You want what is best for your child, but through the exhaustion, overwhelm, and social pressure, how do you ensure they are going to develop properly, and have all they need to grow during this busy time of development? The answer is incredibly reassuring. The MOST IMPORTANT thing your child needs to grow a healthy brain is you, and your ability to connect with your new babe.

Building that Relationship

You’ve likely heard that in the first few years of life, babies and children are building neural connections at an astounding rate. In fact, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second!

Early experiences affect the quality of that brain architecture by establishing either a sturdy or a fragile foundation for all of the learning, health and behavior that follow.

But what influences this growth?

And how are those neural connections created and strengthened?

Your baby's brain develops through use — by your baby interacting, observing and doing things. By interacting with attentive caregivers.

It’s through interactions and experiences with loved and trusted adults that babies begin to make sense of the world. Scientists call this back and forth, between parents and children, “Serve and Return.”

• Background info - This two-minute video explores the science behind serve and return, including how connections are made in a child’s brain in response to serve and return interactions with an adult. Serve & Return Interaction Shapes Brain Circuitry

Here is how you can participate in this crucial aspect of your child’s development

Learn how you can support your baby’s thinking skills from 0-12 months. Below, find a couple resources that give step-by-step instructions on how to respond to a child’s serves in a way that builds their brain.

5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return

This step-by-step guide shows how serve and return interactions unfold, and gives practical advice on how to recognize a child’s serves and respond. (It’s easy!)

How-to: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return

Watch serve and return in action! For those who prefer to view instead of read, this video walks you through the five steps of serve and return with examples of real children and their caregivers.

A peek into our groups

Recess’ new parent groups are held at the incredible Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe. It’s a beautiful space that is much more than a bookstore…It’s a community space, art gallery, and they even host weekly activities for families (most Saturdays).

We are a bookstore open to all. Our mission is to be a community space that brings people together through books, happenings, and an open door. Come in and hang out with us, climb in the treehouse, stay for storytime, or linger over a great new book in our backyard. Everyone is welcome here.

Recess is lucky enough to get to host our groups for newborns and infants in this oasis. Here’s a peek into our sweet groups:

Brain building activities for Newborns

Support your baby’s development from day one

A newborn’s or infant’s brain develops faster than at any other time in a child’s life.  Research shows that during this early period, back-and-forth interactions with caregivers, also known as “serve and return” interactions, strengthen neural connections in the brain. These connections are important for early learning and they establish pathways for future learning.  Relationships with nurturing and responsive caregivers are foundational for early learning and beyond.

Resources

• 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return
  This resource, by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, details five steps for serve-and-return interactions with an overview video and downloadable PDFs in English and Spanish.

• InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development
  This brief from Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child is part of a series that summarizes the Center’s essential scientific findings on human brain development.

• Baby Games Calendar
  Enter the baby’s date of birth on this website to find age-appropriate activities, milestones, and games or get them by email.

• “My 1st Year” and “Discovering Feelings” Books
  Download these PDF booklets to help better understand a baby’s development, recognize important milestones, and record experiences.

• Learning, Play, and Your Newborn
  This Nemours Foundation resource describes what newborns are learning and how caregivers can support them. Also available in Spanish.

• How to Play with Babies
  This article from Zero to Three offers fun ways to interact with newborns and describes common signals that indicate when they want to stop the interaction.

• Nurse-Family Partnership
  This national non-profit provides free support to first-time moms with regular nurse visits from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday to keep mom and baby healthy and safe.