What social skill do typically developing children show that is often absent in children with autism?

Joint attention is a fundamental social skill that typically developing children exhibit, which involves the shared focus of two individuals on an object or event. This skill is crucial for social communication, as it allows children to engage with others, share experiences, and build connections through eye contact, gestures, and vocalizations. Children with autism frequently struggle with joint attention, which can lead to challenges in social interaction and communication. They may find it difficult to follow someone else's gaze or to engage in activities that require shared focus, which can impact their ability to develop relationships and understand social cues.

In contrast, abstract reasoning, peer orientation, and cooperative play, while important social skills, tend to be assessed differently and may not be as directly connected to the fundamental social communicative skills observed in joint attention. While some children with autism may develop these skills in different ways or at different times, the absence of joint attention is one of the more significant and recognizable differences in social skills between typically developing children and those on the autism spectrum.