Joint Attention in Autism: Why It Matters and How to Support It at Home

Two people engaging in joint attention while playing with toy cars, demonstrating shared focus and early social communication skills in autism therapy.

Imagine your child is playing with a toy car, and you point out a real car passing by outside. They look up, then back at you, smiling, as if to share the moment. This back-and-forth connection—called joint attention—is one of the earliest building blocks for communication, learning, and social interaction. For many children, including those on the autism spectrum, joint attention can be harder to develop. Yet it’s a skill worth nurturing, because it opens the door to social connection and language growth.

In this blog, we’ll explore what joint attention is, why it’s so important for development, and practical ways parents can support it in everyday life.

What Is Joint Attention?

Joint attention happens when two people focus on the same thing and share that experience. It’s more than just noticing something—it’s about connecting over it.

For example:

• Your child points to an airplane in the sky and looks at you to see if you notice.

• You point to a dog in the park, and your child follows your gaze and smiles.

• You both look at the same page in a book and talk about what you see.

  
  

It’s the combination of attention + shared social connection that makes joint attention so powerful.

Mother and daughter sharing joint attention as they look toward a pointed object, illustrating early social communication and connection skills.

Why Joint Attention Matters for Children with Autism:

Research shows joint attention is a critical milestone in early development. In fact, studies have found that children who develop strong joint attention skills in the preschool years tend to have stronger language and social outcomes later in life (Mundy & Jarrold, 2010).

For children with autism, joint attention is often an area of challenge—not because they don’t want to connect, but because the skill requires integrating multiple abilities at once: noticing something, shifting attention, and sharing that moment with another person.

Why it matters:

• Language Development – Sharing focus helps children link words to objects, actions, and experiences.

• Social Understanding – It teaches that communication is about connection, not just words.

• Learning from Others – Children use joint attention to pick up on social cues and new information.

Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Joint Attention:

Every child develops differently, but you might notice challenges such as:

• Rarely pointing to show something of interest.

• Not looking where you point or gesture.

• Preferring solitary play without looking to others for reactions.

• Limited back-and-forth interactions during play

  
  

If these signs sound familiar, know that joint attention can be supported and strengthened over time with intentional, playful interactions.

How to Support Joint Attention at Home:

1. Follow Your Child’s Lead

Join in with what your child is already interested in. If they’re lining up toy cars, sit next to them and add your own car to the line, or make a “vroom” sound. Once you’ve connected through their interest, you can gently expand the play.

2. Use Gestures with Words

Combine pointing, looking, and speaking. For example: “Look! A big red truck!” while pointing and making sure your face is easy for your child to see. The combination of visual, verbal, and facial cues increases the chance they’ll notice and engage with you.

3. Play Turn-Taking Games

Games like rolling a ball back and forth, stacking blocks together, or playing peek-a-boo encourage back-and-forth attention. The predictability of these games create familiarity and comfort allowing your child to participate with greater ease, while the turns create natural opportunities for shared focus.

4. Incorporate Favorite Toys and Activities

Motivation matters. If your child loves bubbles, use them as a chance to pause, look at each other, and then blow more bubbles. Those small pauses create the “invitation” for joint attention.

Smiling child playing joyfully with bubbles, demonstrating sensory play and engagement activities that support social communication skills in autism therapy.

Tips for Encouraging Joint Attention Throughout the Day:

• Narrate shared activities: Cooking, gardening, or feeding pets can all be opportunities to describe what you’re doing together.

• Use songs with hand motions: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Wheels on the Bus” blend music, movement, and shared focus.

• Pause to let them respond: After pointing something out, wait a few seconds. That pause is often where the connection happens.

• Make eye contact natural: Instead of asking for eye contact directly, place objects or actions at your eye level so your child naturally looks toward you.

Everyday Life Examples:

• Morning Routine: When brushing teeth together, point out the bubbles in the sink and laugh together.

• Outdoor Walk: Stop to notice a bird on a branch, point to it, and describe its color or sound.

• Playground Time: When on the swings, say “Ready, set…” and pause until your child looks at you before saying “Go!”

• Grocery Store: Hold up two different fruits, name them, and let your child pick one—sharing a moment of choice.

When to Seek Professional Support:

If you’re concerned about your child’s joint attention skills, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or other early intervention specialist can help. Therapies like Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT), Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation (JASPER) and other Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) weave joint attention practice into play in ways that are motivating and meaningful.

Final Thoughts:

Joint attention is about more than looking—it’s about connecting. Every shared glance, every pointed finger, and every “Look at that!” is a small step toward building stronger language, social skills, and relationships. By turning everyday moments into opportunities for connection, you’re giving your child a powerful foundation for growth.

Want more ways to support your child’s communication and connection skills at home? Our pediatric therapy team at McRory Pediatric Services specializes in evidence-based strategies like joint attention to help children thrive. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our individualized programs.

References

Mundy, P., & Jarrold, W. (2010). Infant joint attention, neural networks, and social cognition. Neural Networks, 23(8–9), 985–997.Kasari, C., Freeman, S. F. N., & Paparella, T. (2006). Joint attention and symbolic play in young children with autism: A randomized controlled intervention study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(6), 611–620.