Joint attention is the ability to share a common focus on something (such as people, objects or events) with someone else. When doing this we are often looking or focusing on the same thing and using gesture, for example pointing towards something.

Support your child to respond to joint attention, for example to look at what you point out by:

Get down to their level and get their attention by using their name

Hold out a motivating toy or food item, name it, e.g. ‘apple’, and wait for your child to look at the item, then at you before giving it to them.

Offer your child choices of toys and foods (holding items in front of them), and wait for them to look at you before giving them their preferred item.

Roll a ball/car to each other. Wait for your child to look at the ball and at you before rolling it to them.

When looking at a book with your child, point to pictures while labelling them. Mold your child’s hand into a fist, isolating their forefinger. Point to the picture with their forefinger while saying the word. Hold your child’s hand on the picture and wait for them to look back at you. Make it easy for your child to look at you – bring your face into their line of vision.

Point to something in a distance and say ‘X, look! A plane’. Wait for your child to follow your point and then to look at you. Help them by using their hand to point towards the item you are directing them to.

You can access the HCT Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service web pages at: https://www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/childrens-speech-and-language-therapy/

Developing Joint Attention Skills