In simple words, joint attention is the act of making eye contact with someone as you share an experience. Joint attention is important in helping people communicate with each other all through life. Children with autism have a hard time with this kind of communication.,
Tips to improve:
- Talk to your child often and comment on things around you. Use gestures like pointing as you talk. Try taking your child’s finger and helping him or her point as you name different pictures in a book for him or her to find.
- Lay on the floor, get eye level at your child’s eye level by sitting on your knees, hold toys by your face as you play! Positioning yourself at your child’s level makes it easier for him or her to shift their attention between objects and you. And that can encourage your child to make more eye contact.
- Play parallel activity - Instead of trying to start a new activity, observe what your child is doing as he or she interacts with toys. Consider starting by playing near your child with the same kind of toy and in a similar way as him or her and slowly join in play with him or her.
- Imitate your child – Imitate when your child play or does some activity. Not only is your child likely to think it’s fun to watch you imitate them, but this can also lead to you and your child taking turns!
- Stay calm and look with love at them whenever you kid looks at you. This is important for them to continue making eye contact with you.
It is important for your child to recognize when you are trying to engage and learn how to respond to you. Keep in mind that repeating the same activity is helpful for your child to learn what to expect.
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