Developing visual attention

Making eye contact with a child with ASD can sometimes be difficult. But the secret isn’t in forcing it; it’s in becoming the source of the most interesting things happening in the world for the child. When we use light or bubbles, we aren’t just playing—we’re teaching the brain to focus and follow

Try these 5 simple exercises:

1. “Catch the Bunny.” In a dark room, move a flashlight along the wall, then briefly pause the beam on your face (near your eyes). As the child follows the light, they will naturally look at you.
2. “Wait for the bubble.” Take a breath, bring the stick to your lips, and… freeze. Don’t blow until the child looks at you in anticipation of a miracle. As soon as their gaze is fixed—blow out a cloud of bubbles!
3. “Flashing Nose.” Hold the flashlight to your nose and turn it on and off. This is a great way to draw attention to the center of your face.
4. “Follow the Trajectory.” Slowly blow a single large bubble and point at it with the flashlight. This teaches the child to coordinate their gaze between an object and a person.
5. “Light Path.” Draw shapes on the wall with the flashlight, then ask your child to “knock them down” with their hand or another flashlight while maintaining eye contact with the target.

These games help make the world around them more understandable and predictable.