Just showing how much you care can have far-reaching results.

The Beatles once sang, "Love is all you need." And while you might say that's a bit of a stretch, it turns out you can expand your baby's brain function and forge a strong foundation for future learning simply through the loving interactions you have with him. And while any such interaction can be beneficial, research suggests that over time your child will learn best from the same caring people.

The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child says new evidence indicates that "these relationships actually shape brain circuits and lay the foundation for later developmental outcomes, from academic performance to mental health and interpersonal skills."

The young brain gets constructed much like a house, from the ground up. In scientific terms, the fibers that transmit information between neurons form with each new experience. So every loving encounter works like another building block.

How do you turn love into learning? Engage in "serve and return" behaviors, says the Council. When babies babble, repeat the sounds. When they make funny faces, mimic their goofy grins.

More Ways Parents Can Help

Zero to Three, a national nonprofit organization that focuses on the healthy development of infants and toddlers, suggests these activities:

• 6 to 9 months: Narrate what's happening at the moment, such as "you're eating a big banana," then give your daughter time to respond. Also teach cause and effect, such as by pushing the button on a jack-in-the-box. Wait for her to try it herself before you do it again.
• 9 to 12 months: Engage in circles of communication. If your son reaches for a book, ask "do you want that book?" Wait until he responds before you hand it to him.
• 12 to 18 months: Encourage play with real items disguised as toys. "I let Bailey stand on a stool at the kitchen sink and fill a huge plastic bowl with warm water and lots of soapy bubbles," says Adriane Heideman of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. "She puts her sippy cups in there and thinks she's doing the dishes."
• 18 to 24 months: Promote active play. Practicing new moves on the swing set or slide will strengthen brain connections that help with coordination.
• 24 to 36 months: Combine learning concepts with play. "We take walks, pointing out different shapes," says Jennifer Chesney of Des Moines, Iowa. "Sophia knows that traffic signals are rectangles with circles inside them and flags are rectangles."

No matter what sparks learning, remember that your child's best teachers are the people who love her the most.