About Stanford FIND
Responsive interactions are foundational to early care and education
Introduction
Stanford FIND (Filming Interactions to Nurture Development) is a research-backed professional development model designed to improve the quality of adult-child interactions. Developed at the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, FIND translates decades of developmental science into practical, scalable tools that support educators, caregivers, and systems.
Using videos of real interactions, guided reflection, and a strengths-based approach, Stanford FIND focuses on what's working and how to build on it. Our solutions meet educators, parents, and organizations where they are, supporting both individual growth and system-wide quality improvement.
Our approach
FIND is built on the science of Serve and Return interactions—the responsive back-and-forth exchanges between adults and children that build the foundation for healthy brain development. These everyday moments of connection support children's language growth, social-emotional development, and long-term learning, health, and behavior.
Through video-guided reflection and personalized feedback, FIND helps educators and caregivers recognize and strengthen the positive interactions they're already having with children. Rather than focusing on deficits, we celebrate strengths and provide practical strategies to build on existing capabilities.
Why video?
Video allows educators to see themselves in action, highlighting moments of connection they might have missed in real time. Our platform creates personalized highlight reels that showcase each educator's responsive practices, making learning relevant, affirming, and immediately applicable to daily routines.
Vision statement
A world where responsive interactions are foundational to early care and education, supported by technology, data-informed solutions, and meaningful collaborations.
Our commitment
At Stanford FIND, we believe that every educator and caregiver has the capacity to create powerful, nurturing moments with the children in their care. Our mission is to make high-quality, research-backed professional development accessible, engaging, and transformational.
We envision a future where:
- All early childhood professionals have access to evidence-based training that recognizes and builds on their existing strengths
- Technology serves as a bridge—not a barrier—connecting science to practice in ways that feel personal and achievable
- Systems and organizations prioritize responsive interactions as the cornerstone of quality improvement
- Reflection, collaboration, and coaching are embedded into the culture of early childhood education and professional development
How we're making this vision real
Through our solutions, we're creating multiple entry points for growth—from free awareness-building content to intensive coach training certification. We collaborate with state systems, national organizations, and individual programs to scale what works while maintaining depth and personalization.
By combining Stanford's research expertise with innovative video technology, we're proving that professional development can be both rigorous and relevant, scalable and personal, science-based and immediately practical.