Abstract
Human infants are social by nature. Early behaviors taken as evidence of an innate desire to connect with others generally include eye contact, smiles, and positive vocalizations. Studies have shown that, as infants mature, they begin to alternate gaze between objects of interest and their social partners (joint attention), and show signs that some people are special to them by becoming distressed when separated from them (attachment). In this article, we seek to highlight less frequently studied ways that infants and young children show their desire to connect and communicate with others. To do so, we draw on studies of infants in underrepresented communities, interviews with parents of autistic children, and a recent study of interactions between autistic adults.