Early Gestural Communication
Gestures are a very important part of communication and language development. They lay the foundation for 1) conversational skills, 2) symbolic thought (essential for learning
words), and 3) attention to specific objects, events or actions (important for learning new concepts). They also give the child a way to communicate, participate and engage others
before they start saying words. Adapted from Crais et al. 2009
Function of the Gesture
Regulating another person’s behavior
How your child attempts to change your
behavior by protesting or requesting an
object/action.
1
Protests by:
 using his body to signal refusal
or protest (arches away when
being held)
 pushing away an object with
his hand
Request objects by:
 pointing to obtain an object
 reaching for an object
 touching an adult’s hand to get
an object
Social Interaction
How your child seeks your attention,
uses/imitates familiar gestures, and
participates in social games (e.g. pattycake, peek-a-boo) with you.
Request actions by:
 reaching to be picked up
 repeating an action to get it to
happen again (bounces up and
down for “horsie”)
Seeks attention by:
 banging objects
 consistent body movements
(kicking, flapping arms)
 grabbing an adult’s hand
Participates in social games by:
 showing an interest
 imitating actions
 initiating the game
Uses familiar gestures, such as:
 waving bye bye
 imitating others clapping
Progression of Gestural Complexity
2
3
Requests objects by:
Protests by:
 looking at an obect,  shaking her head for
then at an adult and
“no”
back to the object
Requests objects by:
 reaching while
Requests actions by:
 reaching while
opening and closing
opening and closing
hands to get an object
hands
 handing an object to Requests action by:
an adult for help
 pointing to get
someone to do
something
 taking an adult’s
hand to guide them to
do something
Uses familiar gestures,
such as:
 showing the
function of objects
(brushes hair with a
brush, babbles into a
telephone)
 hugging objects
 clapping for
excitement or
accomplishment
 “dancing” to music
4
Uses familiar gestures, Seek attention by:
 showing off
such as:
 smacking lips like
she’s eating
Uses familiar gestures,
such as:
 shrugging shoulders
or putting hands face
up for “all gone” or
“where is it?”
 blowing kisses
 nodding “yes”
 using more
conventional gestures
(e.g. high five)
Function of the Gesture
Attending to an object with Another
Person (Joint Attention)
Hour child gets your attention by giving
or showing something to you or
following your attempts to show
something new to him.
1
Commenting by:
 showing an object to another
person
 giving an object to another
person
Progression of Gestural Complexity
2
3
Commenting by:
Commenting by
 pointing to an object  pointing to an object
or event
in response to a request
Requesting
information by:
 pointing to an object
to gain information
4
Commenting by:
 using gestures to
clarify a spoken word