While the "right" toys may be top of mind for parents in the first year of life, a new study provides greater evidence that shared emotional experiences between caregivers and infants have more lasting and significant effects on development.

In your next visit, try suggesting that parents find meaningful ways to connect with their babies without the use of toys; like making faces to each other back and forth, singing songs together, and playing hand movement games like patty-cake. Even without the bells and whistles, the connections, ruptures and repairs of a reciprocal relationship are the best way to support development!