I've been thinking a lot about those everyday moments in our classrooms- they've always been my favorite and I think they are so underrated! This research article has beautifully captured why these small interactions matter so much for our little ones' development.
The Research Summary
Deaver, Wright, and Herrington (2021) examined how caregiver interactions support social and emotional development in young children. Their key finding is captured in this quote:
"Caregivers can support the social and emotional development of preschoolers by engaging in responsive interactions, such as sustained interactions, emotion recognition, scaffolding, autonomy, and problem-solving, during everyday routines like cooking."
The researchers found that responsive interactions:
Contribute to self-regulation development
Provide the foundation for learning
Help children develop empathy and social competence
Are most effective during uninterrupted play and routines
What We Already Know
As early childhood educators, we see daily how children learn through relationships. Every time we get down at eye level to listen to a child's story or help mediate a conflict over the play dough, we're building those connections.
"Social and emotional development in early childhood is so significant for success later in life and the foundation of the capacity for learning" (Russell, Lee, Spieker, & Oxford, 2016; Turculet & Tulbure, 2014).
Think about that for a moment. Those everyday interactions aren't just about managing the classroom – they're literally building the foundation for all future learning.
What This Means in Your Classroom
Here's what responsive interactions actually look like in practice:
During Morning Drop-off:
Instead of: Quickly greeting each child and moving on
Try: Taking a moment to notice something specific about each child ("I see you're wearing your favorite truck shirt today!")
During Centers:
Instead of: Moving quickly between areas to manage behavior
Try: Sitting with one small group for 5-10 minutes of uninterrupted play
During Cleanup:
Instead of: Giving general instructions to clean up
Try: Creating opportunities for problem-solving ("How many friends do you think we need to carry this big block?")
Important Note About Documentation & Caregiver Devices:
The researchers specifically noted that caregivers can "increase their responsive interactions by setting aside time for uninterrupted play and engagement in routines, especially when it comes to individual use of electronics" (Reed et al, 2017). In other words, those documentation photos can wait – being present matters more.
What You Can Do Tomorrow
Choose one transition time in your day. Focus on making it more interactive and less directive. Put your phone away during free play. Those photos can wait. Pick one routine (like handwashing or cleanup) and add a relationship-building element to it.
Questions to Consider
When during your day do you feel most connected to your children?
Which transitions or routines could become more interactive?
Where can you add small moments of sustained attention?
Remember: The research confirms what we've always felt in our hearts – every small interaction is building the foundation for lifelong learning and emotional well-being.
References
Deaver, A., Wright, L. E., & Herrington, B. (2020). Little Hands, Little Feet, Little Moments: Effective Classroom Practices to Create Impactful Caregiver Interactions. Dimensions of Early Childhood, 48(2), 14–17.
Note: This blog post summarizes research about responsive interactions in early childhood education. For the complete research context and findings, please refer to the original article.
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