Joint attention is one of the earliest social skills children use and emerges at around 9 months old. New parents might be surprised by how often typically developing children point and initiate moments of shared enjoyment. They bring their parents objects or bang on their high chair to get their parents' attention. These skills emerge so early in life that we once believed they were automatic, like breathing. In fact, joint attention skills they can be taught and it is crucial that we do.

Rituals serve as powerful tools in holistic healthcare, even when called upon to address ritualistic behaviors. By understanding the underlying need for structure and predictability, we can strategically employ rituals to introduce flexibility, replace maladaptive patterns, and imbue even the most mundane tasks with meaning.