Some children need extra time, support or motivation to join in with other people. Interaction can begin in many different ways, including looking towards someone, sharing attention, making a sound, using a gesture, moving closer, taking a turn or using words or AAC.
Parents and carers can support interaction by creating enjoyable, low-pressure opportunities for back-and-forth communication during everyday routines and play. The goal is not to make a child interact on demand, but to notice their communication, follow their interests and make shared interaction easier and more meaningful.
How can I encourage my child to interact with me?
Children are often more likely to interact when the activity is enjoyable, predictable and based on something they are interested in.
Parents and carers can try:
- Follow your child’s interests. Join the activity they are already focused on rather than immediately changing or directing it.
- Get face-to-face where comfortable. Position yourself so your child can easily notice you without requiring eye contact.
- Copy what your child is doing. Imitating an action, sound or movement can show that you are interested in what they are doing and may encourage back-and-forth interaction.
- Pause and wait. After you do or say something, give your child time to respond in their own way.
- Take turns. Use simple games, toys, sounds or actions that naturally create a “my turn, your turn” pattern.
- Comment more and question less. Describe what is happening instead of asking lots of questions that may make the interaction feel demanding.
- Respond to all forms of communication. A look, gesture, movement, sound, sign, picture or AAC message can all be meaningful attempts to interact.
The aim is to create repeated opportunities for shared interaction without making the child feel pressured to perform.
Tip: Keep shared interactions short and enjoyable. A few successful back-and-forth exchanges can be more useful than pushing the interaction for too long.
How do shared attention and turn-taking support interaction?
Shared attention happens when a child and another person focus on the same activity, object or experience. It can create opportunities for communication because both people are engaged with something together.
Turn-taking is another important part of interaction. Children can practise taking turns long before they are using spoken words. A turn might involve rolling a ball, making a sound, adding a block, tapping a drum, copying an action or using AAC.
Parents and carers can support these skills by keeping activities simple and predictable. Try doing something, pausing, and then giving your child time to respond before continuing.
For example:
- roll a ball to your child and wait for them to roll it back
- build a tower by adding one block each
- take turns making sounds or actions
- pause during a familiar song and wait for your child to respond
- copy your child’s movement, then pause to see what they do next
These back-and-forth exchanges can help children learn that interaction involves both people contributing in their own way.
Tip: Your child’s turn does not have to look the same as yours. A gesture, movement, sound, look or AAC response can all count as participation.
When might Speech Pathology help with interaction and communication?
Some children may benefit from additional support to develop interaction, social communication, language or other communication skills.
A Speech Pathologist can look at how your child currently communicates and interacts during everyday activities. Support may include helping with shared attention, turn-taking, understanding and using language, social communication, or exploring augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) where appropriate.
At Innerlink Therapy, our Speech Pathologists work with children and families to identify practical strategies that match the child’s strengths, needs and everyday environments.
If you are concerned about your child’s communication or interaction, contact Innerlink Therapy to discuss whether Speech Pathology may be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I encourage my child to interact with me? Start with activities your child already enjoys. Join their play, copy their actions, pause to give them time to respond and notice all forms of communication, including gestures, sounds, movement, eye gaze, signs or AAC.
How can I encourage my child to interact with me? Start with activities your child already enjoys. Join their play, copy their actions, pause to give them time to respond and notice all forms of communication, including gestures, sounds, movement, eye gaze, signs or AAC.
What if my child prefers to play alone? Some children may need more time or lower-pressure ways to engage. Try joining their activity without taking over, copying what they are doing and allowing the interaction to develop gradually.
How can I encourage turn-taking? Use simple activities with a predictable back-and-forth pattern, such as rolling a ball, stacking blocks, making sounds, using musical instruments or taking turns during a favourite game.
Does my child need spoken words to interact? No. Interaction can happen through movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye gaze, sounds, signs, pictures or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
When should I consider seeing a Speech Pathologist? You may consider speaking with a Speech Pathologist if you are concerned about your child’s interaction, social communication, understanding or use of language, or their ability to communicate needs and ideas in everyday situations
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