Even before they say their first word, babies are constantly learning from the world around them. But new research suggests that some simple interactions may be more effective than others at keeping a baby’s attention—and even supporting early cognitive growth.

A study from the University of California, Davis, published in Developmental Psychology on September 1, 2025, found that naming an object (like saying “bear”) together with spatial words (“here” or “there”) and gestures, such as pointing, keeps infants’ attention longer than using words alone.. In fact, babies at nine months focused longest—8.4 seconds on average—when parents paired labeling and spatial language with gestures.

“This study finds that the diversity and specificity of the words parents use can shape their babies’ development in their engagement with objects around them,” said Erim Kızıldere, lead author and Ph.D. student in psychology at UC Davis.

Related: 9 types of foods to fuel brain development from a pediatric dietitian

How the study worked

Researchers observed 49 North American caregivers and their 9-month-old infants during play sessions with a puzzle featuring cartoon animals: a parrot, zebra, lion, monkey, bear, and elephant. Infants wore head-mounted eye trackers to measure where they looked and for how long.

• When parents used words that were neither labels nor spatial, infants looked for 3.1 seconds.
• Labeling words alone (like “lion”) extended focus to 3.9 seconds.
• Spatial words alone (like “here” or “there”) held attention for 3.6 seconds.
• Combining labeling and spatial words increased focus to 6.1 seconds.
• Adding gestures to labeling and spatial words produced the longest attention span: 8.4 seconds.

“At nine months old, infants are just starting to develop a sense of the space around them as well as some of the words to describe it,” said Lisa Oakes, Distinguished Professor of psychology at UC Davis and senior author of the study. “Because parents used a lot of spatial language, we had the opportunity to measure how babies respond to it.”

Why it matters

These findings highlight that everyday interactions—pointing at a toy, naming it, and using simple directional words—can make a measurable difference in how babies engage with their surroundings. Longer attention spans in infancy may also support stronger spatial reasoning later in life, the researchers said.

“When infants focus their attention longer on the objects around them, those experiences can build up and may lead to better spatial reasoning later in their lives,” said Kızıldere.

In other words, parents don’t need apps or flashcards to give their babies a developmental boost—just intentional, playful communication during routine moments is enough.

Related: Why unstructured play is critical for brain development

How to make gestures part of your daily routine

You don’t need flashcards or special apps to support your baby’s brain development. Everyday routines are full of opportunities to pair words with gestures and help your little one focus longer. Here are a few simple ways to start:

• Playtime pointers: When your baby picks up a toy, name it and point. For example: “Lion here!” while guiding their attention with your hand.
• Mealtime moments: Point to foods on the tray as you label them: “Banana there,” or “Cup here.”
• Outdoor observations: On walks, gesture toward a dog, tree, or car while naming it. “Dog there!” connects the word with the object in space.
• Routine rituals: Add gestures during everyday care — “Sock here” as you put it on, or “Book there” while placing it on the shelf.
• Bath-time fun: Point to toys or water splashes: “Duck here!” or “Water there!”

These small, intentional cues don’t just grab your baby’s attention in the moment. Over time, they help build stronger connections between words, objects, and space — laying a foundation for focus and cognitive growth.

Helping your baby learn, one gesture at a time

Next time your baby reaches for a toy, try this simple interaction: say the object’s name, add a directional cue, and point. For example, “Bear here!” while pointing at the toy. It’s a small act with a surprisingly big impact, helping your infant learn about the objects and space around them while building focus and cognitive skills.

Sources:

1. UC Davis. 2025. “Babies Pay Attention Longest When Parents Combine Words and Gestures, UC Davis Study Suggests.”

Ideas for Kids 
Make Time for Friends-It’s important that your kids make time for their friends amidst homework and other activities. They can hang out together for an hour after school, have a fifteen-minute video call, or go to the football game together on Friday night. As long as your kids are making time for their friends and vice versa, it doesn’t matter what they do, how big or small. 

Use Technology- As we all know, technology can be a blessing and a curse in our world. Let your kids use apps and other platforms to stay connected to friends with the same interests and through communities. For example, they can play a game together online or join a community for kids/teens that revolves around their interests, like STEM, reading, or cooking.

Some apps for teens to check out include Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Hoop, Yubo, and Houseparty. Be sure to check out these apps yourself before allowing your child to join to make sure they are age appropriate and also appropriate for your child’s maturity level.

Send a Quick Text-Sometimes just sending a quick text can make a difference. It’s easy for kids to get caught up in their lives and what they’re doing because they’re kids. So if you know they haven’t seen a friend in a while, remind them to send a quick ‘hello’ or ‘how are you?’ to help stay connected.

Plan Joint Activities

You can plan all kinds of joint activities for your kids to help them connect with their friends outside of school.

Movie Night—Invite your kid’s friends over for a movie night. Provide pizza, snacks, and beverages. Ahead of time, choose a few approved movies and add them to your playlist.

Picnic-Invite your kids’ friends to go on a picnic in the park. Supply sandwiches, chips, and beverages, and have everyone bring a dish or dessert.

Group Outing-Invite your kids’ friends for a night out at the escape room, VR lounge, or the movies. You can also invite them for an afternoon out at the children’s museum (depending on age), park, or playground.

A Day at the Library—This is a great idea for little ones. The library always has something going on. Invite two or three of your child’s friends to story time and see what else is going on that will appeal to younger ages.

Ideas for Adults

Why Should Adults Stay Connected to Friends?

Adults have much more on their plates than kids, so staying connected to friends’s even more important. You can count on these people when you get in a pinch and the people you enjoy hanging out with most. Sometimes you simply want to talk to another adult about things only they can understand. 

How to Stay Connected with Friends as an Adult

Set Weekly Check-ins-Weeks fly by fast; before you know it, it’s Friday, and the week is gone. Talk to your friends and set up a specific day of the week to check in with them. It doesn’t have to be the same day for everyone since people have different schedules, but try to pinpoint a specific day with each friend to connect. 

Chill in the Car Before Carpool-Meet with a friend in the school parking lot an hour before school lets out, and chill out in the car until the kids get out of school and the carpool line starts. This will give you a solid hour of ‘you’ time to catch up before the kids leave school. 

Meet for Coffee- If you can, meet a friend (or friends) for coffee after dropping your kids off at school. Or schedule a coffee meetup on the weekend. 

Go to Lunch-If you’re married, leave your kids with your spouse or significant other and meet your friends for lunch. Single parent? Hire a babysitter for a few hours or leave your kids with a family member.

Send a Message/Meme—During the week, send a quick message or meme to your friends to help them stay connected. 

Create an Online Group-Create a group online where your friends can meet virtually during the week if need be. Maybe someone has a problem they need to talk about or big news to share and doesn’t want to wait until they can meet in person. This is also a great idea if you live in a part of the country that has harsh, long winters, and it’s hard to get out to go places. Overall, try to meet in person as much as possible, but having a backup plan is always great. 

Watch the Game-Meet up with friends at a restaurant to watch the game, or have a party at your house. 

Do the Holidays Together-Nothing brings people together like the holidays. Go Christmas shopping with friends, have a cookie swap, or have a wrapping party together. 

You could also get together on a Saturday and have a Christmas movie watch party together. You could make a pot of soup with rolls and have your friends bring something to share. Another option would be to see a classic Christmas movie on the big screen. Sometimes, small, locally owned theaters will feature Christmas movies like White Christmas, Holiday Inn, or It’s a Wonderful Life on the big screen during the holidays for a limited time. 

The school year has just started, but it never hurts to make a plan to keep in touch. Choose your favorite way to communicate and then make a list of people you want to stay connected with. Next, talk to your friends and set a specific time to connect with each person. Make sure you add it to the calendar on your phone with a reminder so you don’t forget. If you can share a digital calendar with your friends, that would work too. Also, talk to your kids about who they want to stay connected to and make a plan for them, too. Overall, remember to be flexible. Sometimes life happens and plans get canceled, and that’s okay. You can always try again another time. 

Staying connected in our busy lives is more important than ever. With the tips above, you and your kids will have a happier, more connected school year.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Goodboy Picture Company

Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.