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Description: This occurs when the child is engaged in a game or routine with another person, and that person stops the activity. Then, the child uses some form of communication, potentially gestures, vocalizations, verbalizations or gaze, to indicate that they want more of the game or routine. A signal for continuation after a brief pause shows that the child is beginning to understand that his/her actions can influence the actions of another person.


Skill Levels across Three Categories of Social-Communication

The hierarchies of social communication visually represent the order in which these skills develop, and the corresponding ASAP goals and objectives to help children build each level of communication and play.

Social-Communication Hierarchy Chart
Download Social-Communication Hierarchy
What is Joint Attention?

When one person purposefully coordinates his or her focus of attention with that of another person, we refer to the behavior as “joint attention.” Joint attention involves two people paying attention to the same thing, intentionally and for social reasons. Imagine, for example, that a teacher points to her desk and says to a child, “Look at that big apple.” The child looks at the place the teacher has pointed and sees the apple. In this situation, the teacher and the child have engaged in joint attention—that is, they shared attention to the apple on purpose.