Eye contact plays an essential role in a child’s social relationships and language development. A child’s lack of eye contact when talking can be a source of concern for parents, especially in the early years of life, when children are learning to connect and explore the world around them. Signs that a child avoids eye contact when talking can indicate difficulties in social interaction or underlying developmental issues that need attention. The following article will review the signs that a child does not look at the eyes when communicating and the possible causes of this.

Eye contact is an important factor in the development of young children’s language and social skills. One of the common signs of communication difficulties in children can be a lack of eye contact. If a child does not look into their eyes when talking, this can be a sign of underlying problems that parents need to be aware of. In this article, we will explore the signs of a child not looking into their eyes when communicating and the impact this has on their development.

Research on eye contact and child development

A recent study has shown that children who are frequently interacted with by their caregivers through eye contact and vocalization at the age of one are more likely to develop advanced language skills at the age of two.

Before learning to speak, children primarily receive non-verbal cues, especially through eye contact and gestures. A recent study found that children who used eye contact to communicate with their caregivers in early life had better language development. Specifically, one-year-olds who used eye contact and vocalization when communicating with their caregivers had significantly larger vocabularies by the time they were two years old, compared to children who used less eye contact.

Research on eye contact and child skill development

The findings highlight the importance of encouraging parents to pay attention to their children’s communication efforts even before they can speak. Nonverbal communication efforts such as eye contact and gestures are the foundation for children to recognize and understand social cues, which in turn helps them develop language naturally. In the study, scientists observed behaviors such as gestures, eye contact, and vocalizations of 11- to 12-month-olds, along with feedback from caregivers, to better understand how these actions impact language development.

Signs Your Child Doesn’t Look You in the Eyes When Talking

Here are some signs that your child may not be looking you in the eyes when talking or is having difficulty maintaining eye contact:

• Not maintaining eye contact when talking: If your child frequently avoids looking into your eyes, or only glances briefly and then looks away, this may be a sign of not wanting to make eye contact.
• Looking Down or to the Side: Children may deliberately look down at the ground, to the side, or at surrounding objects instead of looking at the person they are communicating with, which may indicate avoidance.
• Feeling anxious when making eye contact: Children may have tense reactions such as looking away, tensing their facial muscles, or may slightly frown when someone tries to make eye contact with them.
• Lack of interaction in conversations: Children may not participate in social conversations or respond appropriately when caregivers make eye contact and speak to them.
• Not knowing how to maintain eye contact in social settings: Children often learn to communicate through eye contact very early. However, some children may not make eye contact in social settings, such as in conversations with friends or others outside the family.
• Signs of a developmental disorder or autism: In some cases, especially in children with developmental disorders or autism, avoiding eye contact may be one of the common symptoms. These children may have difficulty maintaining eye contact in social situations.

Signs that children do not look into eyes when talking

If parents notice these signs, consulting a specialist or doctor can help further assess the child’s development and find the right support.

How to make eye contact with your child?

Eye contact with your child helps increase bonding and develop your child’s language skills. As a parent, you can start paying more attention to how your child communicates nonverbally before he or she starts talking. We are often used to talking to our children, but observing your child’s behavior is just as important. Actions such as crying, turning away, or staring at you are all ways your child tries to communicate with you. Each of these signals needs to be responded to appropriately so that your child feels noticed. For example, when your child looks at you, you can say, “Are you scared by the noise?”, which helps your child become aware of how he or she is feeling and connect with you more.

Parents should start paying more attention to the way their children communicate.

Newborns begin to develop the ability to make eye contact very early. As early as 4 days old, they can recognize their mother’s face. To support this process, when you feed your baby, whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, give your baby opportunities to look at your face, because at this age, their field of vision is only about 8 to 15 inches, which is about the distance between their face and your chest when they are being held. Through this, your baby will learn to make eye contact to develop basic social skills.

From 8 to 15 months old, your baby will begin to be able to maintain the same attention as the caregiver at the same time. Your baby will look at an object or toy and then look back at you, as a way to direct your attention to the desired object. This is how your baby uses nonverbal communication, also known as three-dimensional gaze communication, which includes three elements: the baby, the desired object, and you. This shows that your baby not only understands that he or she can influence you, but also begins to take the initiative in communicating.

Studies show that interacting directly with your baby is always more effective than using digital media such as videos or audio recordings. During direct interactions, your baby will learn to use eye contact naturally. When you respond to the sounds your baby makes, such as with a smile, a loving gesture or a word, your baby will gradually form the habit of making happy noises to attract your attention. The more time you spend with your baby, the more opportunities your baby has to learn and form a bond with you.

Parents should consult a doctor or child development specialist.

A child’s failure to look into the eyes when speaking can indicate a variety of developmental issues. Parents should be on the lookout for signs such as avoiding eye contact or showing signs of strain when making eye contact to identify any difficulties that the child may be experiencing. If the condition persists or is severely affecting the child’s social development, parents should consult a doctor or child development specialist for timely support.