Tips to Encourage a Child to Use Gestures

As adults, we are constantly using gestures to communicate. When you wave to say hi or bye, pointing, nodding your head for no, blowing kisses, gesturing to “come here,” singing [Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, If You’re Happy and You Know It (Clap your hands), The Wheels on the Bus, Itsy Bitsy Spider], high five, and plugging your nose after changing a diaper. We are constantly gesturing throughout our day to communicate using our bodies. We can teach these gestures to our children early on to help them communicate with their environment. Children learn to gesture before they learn to express themselves verbally.

Practice everyday gestures throughout your daily routines. Model iconic gestures as you perform the action. Practice pointing as you label or talk about pictures in books and objects around your home to encourage your child to point. Increase pointing by giving your child two choices during snack and play time. Your child might start with pointing using their whole arm for the purpose of showing, labeling, or requesting. Eventually, this will turn into your child pointing with their finger.

Don’t forget to praise and acknowledge your child’s attempt to imitate or use a gesture/word/sign with a close approximation. You will be supporting them to feel encouraged to communicate with you.