Observing a child’s development often brings joy and questions for parents. Each new behavior and milestone prompts curiosity about typical development or potential concerns. This article addresses side glancing, a visual behavior that often prompts questions.
Understanding Side Glancing
Side glancing, also known as peripheral viewing, describes when a child looks at objects or people from the corner of their eyes. Instead of turning their head to face something directly, they might keep their head relatively still and shift their gaze to the side. This involves using their peripheral vision to explore their surroundings. It often appears as a quick, discreet sideways look.
This behavior functions as a form of visual exploration. Children might use it to process new visual information. It is a method of taking in visual stimuli without direct, frontal eye contact. This visual technique can be a natural part of how children learn about their environment.
Side Glancing in Typical Development
Side glancing is a common, normal developmental behavior observed in infants and toddlers. Many children engage in this action as they explore their visual capabilities. They use it to process new visual information, especially with novel objects or environments.
A child might side glance to explore their peripheral vision or to manage sensory input from their surroundings. This behavior can simply be a manifestation of curiosity as they learn how their eyes work and how to interact with the world around them. Its presence alone does not indicate a developmental concern, and many children outgrow it.
Side Glancing and Autism
While side glancing can be typical, it is also observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In autism, side glancing is often described as a form of visual stimming or self-stimulatory behavior. It may serve various purposes, such as managing sensory input or coping with overwhelming environments.
Children with autism might use side glancing to control and modulate the amount of visual information they absorb, acting as a self-soothing mechanism due to unique sensory sensitivities. It can also be a response to anxiety, social discomfort, or difficulties interpreting social cues. This behavior might also reflect an intense interest in specific visual details rather than processing broader social cues. Therefore, when observed in children with autism, side glancing is often considered within a broader pattern of behaviors.
Other Early Indicators of Autism
Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed by a pattern of behaviors, not a single sign like side glancing. Early indicators often emerge in the first one to two years of life and typically involve differences in social communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors. Signs vary widely among children.
Social communication differences may include limited or no eye contact, rarely smiling back at others, and not consistently using gestures like waving or pointing. Delayed speech, difficulty following simple instructions, or limited interest in interactive games like peek-a-boo are also common. Children with autism might show limited interest in other children or struggle with social reciprocity, which involves the back-and-forth flow of social interaction.
Repetitive behaviors can manifest as intense interests in specific objects or activities, such as spinning toy wheels. Repetitive movements like hand flapping or body rocking are also observed. Unusual reactions to sensory input, such as being very upset by certain tastes, smells, or sounds, or having a heightened sensitivity to light, are also common.
When to Consult a Professional
Parents are often the first to notice developmental differences, and trusting these instincts is important. If side glancing is persistent, occurs with other developmental concerns, or if a child is not meeting typical developmental milestones, consulting a professional is advised. Acting early can make a significant difference in outcomes.
The first step is often to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician to discuss any concerns. A pediatrician can conduct initial developmental screenings and, if needed, refer to specialists. These specialists include developmental pediatricians, child neurologists, or child psychologists, who evaluate and diagnose developmental and behavioral conditions.