# If a child isn't yet showing nonverbal communication

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-nonverbal-communication
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

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®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) 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](/nonverbal-communication), and how our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) 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](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) with a Pinnacle clinician for a calm, clear review of how this child connects.

## Sources
- AAP — social and communication milestones (healthychildren.org): https://www.healthychildren.org
- CDC — Learn the Signs, Act Early developmental milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- WHO ICF — communication domain (d3): https://icd.who.int

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Skills: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/skills
- Caregiver: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/caregiver
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Concern: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/concern
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Book Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/book-assessment
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## Related question paths

### Recognise signs & concerns
- When a child isn't yet showing non-verbal communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal-communication
- What to do if a child in your care is not yet talking: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal
- What to do if a child isn't yet showing social communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-social-communication
- When a child in your care isn't yet communicating: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-communication
- What to Do When a Child Isn't Yet Communicating: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-speech-language-and-communication
- When a child isn't yet showing communication and social language: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-communication-social-language
- At what age should a child use nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-should-a-child-nonverbal-communication
- Nonverbal communication milestones for teachers: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/by-what-age-is-a-child-usually-expected-to-nonverbal-communication-and-what-should-a-teacher-expect-in-class
- Nonverbal Communication as an Early Sign of Developmental Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/could-difficulty-with-nonverbal-communication-be-a-sign-of-a-developmental-delay
- Observing Nonverbal Communication on a Home Visit: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/during-a-home-visit-what-should-a-frontline-worker-observe-about-a-child-learning-to-nonverbal-communication
- Nonverbal communication delay: when to escalate: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/if-a-child-cannot-nonverbal-communication-at-the-expected-age-when-should-a-frontline-health-worker-escalate
- Nonverbal communication difficulty as a developmental red flag: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-difficulty-learning-to-nonverbal-communication-a-clinical-red-flag-that-warrants-a-developmental-referral

### Understand assessment
- Assessing and tracking nonverbal communication progress: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-clinician-assess-and-track-a-child-s-progress-in-learning-to-nonverbal-communication
- What an amber zone for nonverbal communication means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-nonverbal-communication-what-does-that-mean
- What the green zone for nonverbal communication means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-nonverbal-communication-what-does-that-mean
- What a red zone for nonverbal communication means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-nonverbal-communication-what-does-that-mean

### Explore therapy & support
- As a therapist, what techniques help a child develop nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-therapist-what-techniques-help-a-child-develop-the-ability-to-nonverbal-communication
- How can a teacher support a child working on nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-teacher-support-a-child-working-on-nonverbal-communication
- How a teacher can support a student learning nonverbal communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-teacher-support-a-student-who-is-still-learning-to-nonverbal-communication
- How should a therapist prioritise a child in the amber zone for nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-nonverbal-communication
- How should a therapist prioritise a child in the green zone for nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-green-zone-for-nonverbal-communication
- How should a therapist prioritise a child in the red zone for nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-red-zone-for-nonverbal-communication
- Amber Zone for Nonverbal Communication — What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-nonverbal-communication-what-should-we-do-next
- Green zone nonverbal communication — next steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-nonverbal-communication-what-should-we-do-next
- Red zone for nonverbal communication: what to do next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-nonverbal-communication-what-should-we-do-next
- Therapy for nonverbal communication in toddlers: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-therapy-helps-a-child-learn-to-nonverbal-communication

### At home & in everyday life
- Helping Your Child Practise Nonverbal Communication at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-how-can-i-gently-help-a-child-practise-learning-to-nonverbal-communication-during-everyday-routines
- How can I help my child learn nonverbal communication at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-help-my-child-with-learn-to-nonverbal-communication-at-home
- What is one Everyday Therapy activity for nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-one-everyday-therapy-activity-to-help-my-child-with-nonverbal-communication