Three Strategies for Improving Joint Attention
Joint attention is a foundational social communication skill that is often challenging for children with autism. It involves sharing attention with another person toward an object or event, like looking at a toy together or following someone’s point. Developing joint attention skills is crucial because they form the building blocks for language development, social relationships, and learning.
Here are three strategies that can help improve joint attention in children with autism.
Understanding Joint Attention
Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand what joint attention is and why it matters.
What Is Joint Attention?
Joint attention occurs when two people share focus on the same thing. This can happen through eye contact, pointing, showing objects, or following another person’s gaze. It’s the basis for social communication and helps children learn from others.
Why Is It Important?
Children learn language and social skills by sharing attention with others. When a parent points to a dog and says “dog,” the child learns the word because they’re looking at the same thing. Difficulties with joint attention can impact language development, social skills, and academic learning.
Two Types of Joint Attention
Responding to joint attention involves following another person’s direction of attention, such as looking where someone points.
Initiating joint attention involves directing another person’s attention to something, such as pointing at something interesting to share it with someone else.
Strategy 1: Follow Your Child’s Lead
One of the most effective ways to build joint attention is to follow your child’s natural interests rather than trying to direct their attention to what you want them to look at.
Observe What Interests Your Child
Pay attention to what captures your child’s attention. What toys do they gravitate toward? What activities do they find engaging? These natural interests are opportunities for building joint attention.
Join In Their Activity
Position yourself at your child’s level and join in what they’re doing. If they’re playing with blocks, sit across from them and start building too. If they’re looking at a picture, look at it with them.
Comment and Expand
Once you’re engaged in the same activity, make simple comments about what you’re both looking at. “Wow, a tall tower!” or “I see a red car.” This connects language to shared attention naturally.
Wait and Observe
Give your child time to respond. Don’t rush to fill silences. Children need processing time, and waiting encourages them to initiate communication.
Strategy 2: Create Opportunities for Your Child to Respond
Help your child practice responding to joint attention by creating fun, motivating opportunities.
Use Animated Pointing
When you want to direct your child’s attention to something, point in an exaggerated way and use an excited voice. “Look! A bird!” Make it interesting and worth looking at.
Pause and Wait
After you point or direct attention, pause and wait for your child to look. Give them time to process your cue. If they don’t respond, try gently guiding their attention.
Start Close, Then Increase Distance
When first practicing responding to points, the object should be close to you. As your child gets better at following your point, gradually increase the distance between you and the object you’re pointing to.
Make It Fun
Use highly preferred items or activities to practice. If your child loves bubbles, blow bubbles and point to them excitedly. The more motivating the experience, the more likely your child is to engage.
Strategy 3: Encourage Your Child to Initiate
While responding to joint attention often develops first, initiating joint attention—directing others’ attention—is equally important.
Model Initiating
Show your child how to get your attention and direct it to something. Tap your arm, point to something, and look back and forth between you and the object. Narrate what you’re doing: “Look, mommy! A dog!”
Create Situations That Encourage Initiation
Set up the environment to encourage your child to initiate. Put favorite toys in sight but out of reach. Wind up a fun toy and wait for it to stop. These situations create opportunities for your child to seek your help or share their interest.
Respond Enthusiastically
When your child does initiate joint attention—even in small ways—respond with enthusiasm. If they look at something and then back at you, acknowledge it: “Yes! You see the airplane! That’s so cool!” This reinforces their initiation.
Use Naturalistic Teaching
Embed learning opportunities into everyday activities and play. Rather than structured drills, look for natural moments to practice joint attention throughout the day.
Additional Tips for Success
Be Patient
Building joint attention takes time. Celebrate small wins and be patient with progress. Even brief moments of shared attention are meaningful.
Reduce Distractions
Practice in environments with minimal distractions so your child can focus on you and the activity.
Make Eye Contact Meaningfully
Don’t force eye contact, but make it rewarding. When your child does look at you, smile and respond positively, so they learn that looking at people leads to good things.
Work with Your ABA Team
If your child is receiving ABA therapy, talk to their behavior analyst about joint attention goals. They can help design specific interventions and track progress over time.
Talk to an ABA Therapist at Behavior Frontiers
Joint attention is a critical skill that supports language development and social connection. By following your child’s lead, creating opportunities to respond, and encouraging initiation, you can help build these foundational skills. Remember that progress may be gradual, but each step forward is meaningful.