{"h1":"What to do if your child doesn't show you things they like","faq":[{"a":"Sharing interests — pointing, bringing toys, glancing back to check you're sharing the moment — usually develops between about 9 and 18 months. It grows naturally with warm, responsive, playful interaction, so there's no single switch but a gradual blossoming.","q":"At what age should my child start showing me things they like?"},{"a":"No — on its own it does not mean that. Reduced sharing of interest is one early social-communication signpost worth gently watching, but many children simply develop at their own pace. A friendly developmental check offers reassurance and clarity rather than a label.","q":"Does not showing me things mean my child has autism?"},{"a":"Play at their level, follow their lead, and respond with big, happy delight whenever they glance at you or hold something out. Create gentle reasons to share — like pausing during bubbles so they look to you for more — and keep it joyful, never drill-like.","q":"How can I encourage my child to share things with me?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-should-i-do-if-my-child-doesn-t-show-me-things-they-like","title":"What should I do if my child doesn't show me things they like?","entity":{"key":"9ed0f0d21ee0","kind":"symptom","name":"doesn't show me things they like","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Social","value":"social"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Family Empowerment","value":"family_empowerment"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-doesn-t-show-me-things-they-like-should-i-be-worried","title":"My child doesn't show me things they like — should I be worried?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-doesn-t-show-me-things-they-like","title":"What does it mean if my child doesn't show me things they like?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-play","title":"Is it normal that my child is not yet showing social play?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-sharing","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing social sharing?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-social-interest","title":"What to do when a child isn't yet showing social interest"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-sharing","title":"Is it normal that my child is not yet showing social sharing?"}],"summary":"If your child doesn't yet show you things they like, focus on warm, face-to-face play — follow their lead, respond with delight when they share, and create gentle reasons to look to you. Sharing interests (joint attention) usually grows between 9 and 18 months. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*When your little one doesn't turn to share the things that delight them, it's natural to wonder — and there is so much you can gently do.*\n\n## In short\nWhen a child rarely brings you a toy, points to something exciting, or looks back to check you're sharing the moment, this is one early social-communication signpost worth gently watching — not a diagnosis. Sharing interests (called *joint attention*) usually blossoms between **9 and 18 months**, and it grows beautifully with warm, playful, responsive interaction. The most helpful thing you can do is play at your child's level, follow their lead, and notice patterns over a few weeks — then arrange a friendly developmental check if you stay unsure.\n\n## What this looks like and what helps\nSharing what we enjoy — holding up a biscuit to show you, pointing at a dog, glancing back to see your face light up — is how children connect before they have many words. If your child seems content to play alone and doesn't yet bring things to you, here is what genuinely helps:\n\n- **Get face to face, down at their level** — sit on the floor, in front of them, so your smile and eyes are easy to find.\n- **Follow their lead** — join whatever they're already enjoying rather than redirecting; comment warmly on it (\"Wow, the red car!\").\n- **Make sharing rewarding** — when they do glance at you or hold something out, respond with big, happy delight, so the moment feels worth repeating.\n- **Create gentle reasons to share** — offer a windy-up toy or bubbles and pause, so they look to you for \"more\".\n- **Name feelings and objects** as you play, building the bridge between connection and language.\n\nThese are everyday, joyful things — never drills. Most children respond warmly when interaction is consistent and unhurried.\n\n## When to seek a check\nConsider a friendly developmental check if, by around **18 months**, your child rarely points to show interest, doesn't bring or show you objects, seldom makes eye contact during play, or doesn't share smiles back and forth — especially alongside few words or limited response to their name. Trust your instinct: a check is reassurance, not a label, and earlier support is always gentler.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or an online form. We begin with a warm, [clinician-administered structured assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) to understand your child's whole profile, and where helpful, build social connection and communication through [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate). You're always welcome to [start here](/) and ask us anything.\n\n## Trusted sources\nCDC “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” milestone guidance on showing and sharing interests; American Academy of Pediatrics family guidance (HealthyChildren.org) on social-communication development; ASHA resources on early joint attention and communication.\n\n**Next step —** Noticing your child doesn't share their joys? [Book a warm developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-should-i-do-if-my-child-doesn-t-show-me-things-they-like","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-should-i-do-if-my-child-doesn-t-show-me-things-they-like","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Child Doesn't Show You Things They Like? What To Do","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Sit on the floor face to face during play and pause invitingly — offer bubbles or a wind-up toy and wait, so your child has a reason to look to you for 'more'. When they do glance or share, light up with delight; that joy makes sharing worth repeating.","published_at":"2026-06-10T15:24:00.165577+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-social-interest","title":"What to do when a child isn't yet showing social interest","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-sharing","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing social sharing?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-sharing","title":"Is it normal that my child is not yet showing social sharing?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-play","title":"Is it normal that my child is not yet showing social play?","reason":"Linked from this answer"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":4},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-doesn-t-show-me-things-they-like","title":"What does it mean if my child doesn't show me things they like?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-doesn-t-show-me-things-they-like-should-i-be-worried","title":"My child doesn't show me things they like — should I be worried?","reason":"Linked from this answer"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":2}],"what_to_watch":"Watch over a few weeks for whether your child points to show interest, brings or holds up objects to share, makes eye contact during play, and shares smiles back and forth. Seek a friendly check if, by around 18 months, these are rarely present — especially alongside few words or limited response to their name.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early. (developmental milestones)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP HealthyChildren.org — social and communication development"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org","label":"ASHA — early social communication and joint attention"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T15:24:00.165577+00:00","meta_description":"Gentle, expert steps when your child doesn't share or show you things they enjoy — how to build joint attention and when a developmental check helps.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}