nonverbal communication
If a child isn't yet showing nonverbal communication
If a child in your care isn't yet showing nonverbal communication — eye contact, smiling back, pointing, gesturing, sharing attention — encourage it gently through everyday face-to-face play, and arrange a calm developmental check so any support can begin early. Watch for little eye contact, no response to name, no pointing or showing by 12–15 months, few gestures, or loss of a skill. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis — early support works best.
Long before words arrive, children speak with their eyes, hands and smiles — and noticing when this hasn't quite begun is thoughtful, caring observation.
In short
Nonverbal communication — eye contact, smiling back, pointing, reaching, gesturing, sharing attention — is how a child connects before talking begins. If a child in your care isn't yet showing these, the first step is gentle, playful encouragement woven into everyday moments, alongside a calm developmental check so any support can begin early. This is not a diagnosis — it simply means a clinician's friendly look is wise now, because early support works beautifully.What to watch
Nonverbal communication usually blooms across the first 18 months. Gentle flags worth a clinician's eye include:- Little eye contact — not looking towards you during play, feeding or cuddles.
- Not responding to their name or to a friendly voice.
- No pointing or showing — not pointing to ask for things, or to share something interesting by around 12–15 months.
- Few gestures — not waving bye-bye, reaching up to be held, or shaking the head.
- Little shared smiling — not smiling back or joining your delight.
- Loss of a skill once present — this always deserves prompt review.
What you can do today
Follow the child's gaze and name what they look at. Pause and wait expectantly after a gesture, so they have room to respond. Play face-to-face games — peek-a-boo, clapping, copying sounds. Offer choices held up at eye level so reaching and pointing become useful. Most of all, respond warmly to every small attempt to connect — that response is what teaches communication.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Drawing on 2.5 billion+ data points and 25 million+ therapy sessions, our clinicians map a child's strengths and shape playful support around connection. Read more about nonverbal communication, and how our speech therapy team builds early connection through play.Trusted sources
WHO ICF framework (communication domain, d3); American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) guidance on social and communication milestones; CDC "Learn the Signs, Act Early" developmental monitoring resources.Next step — Trust what you've noticed. Book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician for a calm, clear review of how this child connects.
What to watch
Seek a developmental check if a child shows little eye contact, doesn't respond to their name, isn't pointing or showing things by around 12–15 months, rarely gestures (waving, reaching), seldom smiles back, or has lost a skill once present. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis.
Try this at home
Hold a favourite toy or snack up at the child's eye level and pause — wait expectantly for any look, reach or sound, then respond warmly straight away. That response is what teaches connection.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 540 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
At what age should nonverbal communication appear?
Nonverbal communication blooms across the first 18 months — shared smiling and eye contact early, then gestures like reaching and waving, and pointing to share or request by around 12–15 months. Every child has their own pace, so it's the overall pattern that matters.
What can I do at home to encourage it?
Follow the child's gaze and name what they look at, play face-to-face games like peek-a-boo, pause expectantly after a gesture, offer choices at eye level to invite reaching, and respond warmly to every small attempt to connect.
Does this mean something is wrong?
Not at all — it simply means a calm developmental check is wise so any support can begin early if needed. A clinician's friendly review tells you far more than any online list, and early support works beautifully at this age.