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The milestone before first words isn't a word
💡 Sharing attention with someone — pointing just to connect, not just to get something — is a quiet foundation that paves the way for talking.
Long before a child says "ball," a quieter skill is usually doing the heavy lifting: joint attention — the ability to share focus on something with another person. It's the moment a toddler looks at a dog, then looks back at you, as if to say "are you seeing this too?" That little back-and-forth of gaze is one of the strongest predictors of later language, because words are fundamentally about sharing what's in our minds.
Here's the subtle part therapists watch for: not all pointing is the same. A child who points at a cookie to get it is requesting. A child who points at an airplane just to make you look — expecting nothing but a shared smile — is sharing. That second kind, pointing purely to connect, is the social spark that therapy often nurtures first, through playful routines, exaggerated reactions, and following the child's lead.
You can build it in everyday play: pause during a fun activity and wait, react big when your child glances your way, and narrate what you both notice. Every child's path differs, and a delay here isn't a verdict — it's simply a skill that can be grown with the right playful practice.