Joint attention at 10 months of age in infant–mother dyads: Contrasting free toy-play with semi-structured toy-play

Fifty-two 10-month-olds and their mothers were observed in free toy-play and semi-structured toy-play for assessing joint attention capabilities. Mothers exhibited more bids for joint attention during semi-structured toy-play. Infants’ response to maternal behaviors and their bids for initiating joint attention were higher during free toy-play.

► Mother and infant presented different patterns of behavior across conditions.
► Mothers presented more bids for joint attention in the semi-structured toy-play.
► Infants displayed more responding to joint attention during free toy-play.
► Infants’ initiating joint attention levels were higher in free toy-play.
► Free toy-play may provide reliable and important data on joint attention.