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Pointing lets a child request, comment and share attention before speech can carry every idea.
Pointing to communicate: what parents can notice
A point paired with looking back at an adult shows that the child wants to share an experience, not only obtain an object.
How this ability develops
A point paired with looking back at an adult shows that the child wants to share an experience, not only obtain an object.
The path toward Pointing to communicate is rarely a straight line. Children practise component skills, pause, try a different strategy and return with more control. Prematurity, health, temperament and opportunities to move and interact can all influence timing.
What variation can look like
Some children use an open hand, reach or another gesture before an index finger.
A milestone guide is a prompt for observation and conversation, not a home diagnostic test. Consider how the child plays, learns, communicates, relates and moves as a whole, and use corrected age when a clinician recommends it for a child born early.
Support through everyday play
Respond to points with words and interest, then pause for the child’s next signal.
- Begin with a skill the child can already do and add one manageable challenge.
- Pause long enough for the child to respond rather than completing the task immediately.
- Repeat enjoyable games often; repetition is how young children test and refine ideas.
A meaningful real-life example
A toddler points at an aeroplane, looks at a parent and smiles when the parent says, “I see it too.”
The adult’s role in Pointing to communicate is to make the opportunity safe, notice the child’s attempt and respond without turning play into a performance. Warm attention is more useful than drilling or repeated testing.
Safety and comfort
Keep desired items safely visible without deliberately frustrating the child into communicating.
During Pointing to communicate activities, stop if the child is distressed, exhausted or in pain. Avoid equipment or exercises that force the body into a position the child cannot reach or leave independently, and adapt the environment before expecting impulse control.
When a conversation may help
Ask for developmental advice if gestures, shared attention and response to others are limited.
Bring concerns about Pointing to communicate to the child’s healthcare professional rather than waiting for a crisis. A clear description, short video of an everyday attempt and notes about hearing, vision, movement and interaction can make the conversation more useful. Loss of an established skill deserves prompt attention.
Frequently asked questions
Can parents practise Pointing to communicate?
For Pointing to communicate, offer safe, enjoyable opportunities, but avoid drilling or forcing. Development grows through voluntary participation.
What matters more than an exact age for Pointing to communicate?
With Pointing to communicate, progress over time, the quality and symmetry of the skill, and the child’s wider development provide better context.
In brief
Pointing is powerful social communication and deserves a warm, meaningful response.
References
The following authoritative resources support editorial and professional review of Pointing to communicate. Check every source for current and locally applicable guidance before publication.
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Healthier Baby Today articles are reviewed for accuracy and updated as guidance changes.
Last updated: July 17, 2026
