Shared (joint) attention

What is shared attention and why does it matter?

Shared attention – also known as joint attention – is the shared focus of two people on an object or activity. It is achieved when one individual wants to tell another about something such as a toy, or something they have seen or heard, and is able to do this by means of eye-gazing, pointing or other verbal or non-verbal indications.

Shared or joint attention is an important early step in the development of successful communication skills and provides the basis for learning. When you have your child’s attention you will be able to give them the information you are hoping to teach them. When your child has your attention they will be able to share information with you.

Successful communication involves more than listening and speaking. It involves two or more people sharing a thought or activity or conversation and understanding that there are rules for making this communication work well. These ‘communication rules’ include:

• maintaining eye contact;
• turn taking;

and in time:

• negotiating;
• describing;
• empathising – understanding that other people might have a different point of view to yourself.

The first step to understanding these rules is learning to share an activity; in other words, to pay attention to each other with good eye contact. This must be established so that other elements can evolve. This does not need to include spoken language; your child may use non-verbal communication skills initially. However, they may also start to use their voice to indicate pleasure or frustration during an activity, and to indicate when they think it is their turn, or to prompt a response from you. When this happens it is important that you very obviously respond.

Our goal is to make your child feel listened to. We want your child to know that when he tries to communicate it will be worth his while!

How can you encourage shared attention?

Very simply you can encourage shared attention by doing things together with your child! You need to find fun things to do which require you and your child to “chat” and share an experience.

These are a few examples you might like to try at home:

• Copy your child! – When you see your child do something (such as clap or wave) try and copy them. Do they enjoy this? Will they do it again to encourage you to keep on copying them?
• Share some books together – Initially, sit your child on your lap and look at the book together pointing at things on the pages. Later try sitting next to or opposite your child, encouraging them to look between the book and yourself. Keep talking about what you are looking at. Wait for your child to point and prompt you.
• Share messy play! – Use paints or play dough. Sit next to your child. Talk about what you are doing. Take it in turns to use the materials.
• Rolling a ball! – Try sitting down opposite your child and roll a ball between you. You might need another person to help with this. Wait a while before you roll the ball. Does your child look at you and make any indication that they would like you to roll it? Talk about what you are doing: “Roll roll!”, “My turn!”
• Playing with favourite toys – Does your child particularly enjoy toy cars or trains, or perhaps animals? Put some in a box and get them out together. Perhaps you could take it in turns to take them out. Spend time playing with them. Encourage your child to ‘imagine’ what is going on – for example, “Look, the car is going round and round the road. Brmm brmm!” Does your child participate by copying what you do? Try copying what your child does. Does your child look to you and indicate they want you to do something again?
• Look out of the window! – Take a few minutes each day to look out of the window. Pick your child up so that you can get good eye contact. Point to things that you see – “Look at the big tree!” Make sure you alternate your gaze between your child and the view. Reward your child when they point things out by responding immediately.
• Share a walk – Go for a walk locally taking time to point things out. Make sure you get down to your child’s level and get their attention before showing them things. Will they try and show you anything?