Why Gestures Matter for Early Communication

Long before children begin speaking in sentences, they communicate with their hands, faces, and bodies. Gestures are one of the earliest forms of communication and provide a window into a child's thoughts, feelings, and understanding of the world. Research has shown that encouraging gestures supports overall language development, and a child's use of gestures can even predict later communication skills.

As children grow, their gestures become more purposeful. Research with young children shows using gestures from 9 -16 months-old can predict language development two years later. You speech language pathologist will model and encourage simple symbolic gestures, like pretending to drive a car or giving a thumbs-up to show they like something.

The good news is that gestures are easy to model at home. One of the most effective strategies is to model them throughout your daily routines. Point to objects as you name them, wave goodbye, clap during songs, nod your head for "yes," shake your head for "no," and use simple actions during pretend play. Pairing gestures with spoken words helps children connect meaning with language while making communication more engaging and fun.

Remember, every time you point, wave, and clap you are building the foundation for future language. By modeling gestures and responding to your child's attempts to communicate, you're supporting their confidence, social interaction, and communication skills, even before they say their first words.