Simply, joint attention is a shared experience between you and your child – when you both realize it is a shared experience – even if it is just for a fleeting moment. We need joint attention before we can communicate effectively.
The Official Definition:
Joint attention is the ability to “maintain a common focus with another person on an event in the immediate environment, or on a topic through language. Joint attention communication occurs when signals are used to direct another’s attention to an object or event for the purpose of sharing observations or experiences (e.g. commenting on an object or event, requesting information). “(From The SCERTS Model, Vol. 1, by Prizant, Wetherby, Rubin, Laurent, and Rydell, p.313).
Joint Attention Activities: