When should my child start using GESTURES?

Written By Emma Hackett

Firstly, what is a gesture?

Gestures are a prelinguistic (pre-talking) skill that are crucial for communicative development. Children use gestures intentionally to communicate with their hands, body or facial movements.

  • Pointing

  • Waving

  • Clapping

  • Requesting to be picked up

  • Shaking/Nodding head

When should I be concerned if my child is not using gestures consistently?

If your child does not use any ‘gestures’ at the age of 12 months, it would be worthwhile reaching out to a Speech Pathologist who can assist you with your child’s gesture development.

How can I help support my child to use gestures to communicate?

  1. Model the use of gestures when playing with dolls or bears

  2. When people visit your home, wave hello and goodbye. Model waving to your child until they imitate the gesture.

  3. Model shaking and nodding your head when you are saying “yes” or “no”.

  4. Encourage your child to request objects/toys with a pointing gesture

  5. Singing nursery rhymes

Emma Hackett

Emma is a freelance Australian designer specialising in graphic & web design services for new and existing businesses. My mission is to enhance the way your clientele perceive and interact with your business by creating effective, functional and memorable visual communications. Whilst following your brief, I will also offer expertise in terms of functionality and aesthetic to make sure the end result is something we are both proud of! My personal aesthetic is very much a 'less is more' approach. I love spacious design, beautiful imagery and creating communications that accentuate a brand's values and provide a pleasant experience for their target market.

https://emmahackett.design
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