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ASK PINNACLE · QUESTIONS, EXPLANATIONS & NEXT STEPS

Social Referencing

Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with social referencing.

28 published answers · English · Page 2

Therapy & support

Answer

Therapy that supports social referencing in toddlers

Social referencing — when a toddler looks to a trusted adult's face to gauge a new situation — is supported through play-based developmental therapy, naturalistic speech-language therapy and parent interaction coaching that build joint attention, gaze-following and emotional reading. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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At home

Answer

Helping Your Child Practise Social Referencing at Home

Social referencing — your child checking your face for cues — grows during ordinary routines. Be warmly expressive, pause to invite a check-in, name what your face shows, and let mealtimes, bath time and safe surprises become natural practice. Follow your child's lead and keep it light.

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How to Help Your Child Learn Social Referencing at Home

Social referencing is your toddler checking your face and voice to decide how to feel about new things. Build it at home by being a calm, expressive anchor, pausing so your child can look to you, naming feelings, and playing face-to-face games that reward that glance back.

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What is one Everyday Therapy activity to help my child with social referencing?

A simple Everyday Therapy activity for social referencing is the "look at me" pause: when something new or surprising happens, freeze for a beat, let your toddler check your face, and give a clear, warm expression they can read. Repeated through daily moments, this teaches your child to use your face for emotional cues — the core of social referencing.

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