{"h1":"Do children usually outgrow not pointing to show things?","faq":[{"a":"Pointing to show — sharing something interesting just for the joy of it — usually emerges between 12 and 18 months. If it's still absent towards 18 months, a gentle developmental check is sensible, especially alongside how other skills are coming along.","q":"At what age should my child point to show things?"},{"a":"Pointing to request (wanting a biscuit) and pointing to show (sharing a bird in the sky) are slightly different. Sharing-pointing reflects social connection. If requesting is present but sharing isn't by around 18 months, it's worth a brief check — not a cause for alarm, but a good reason for reassurance.","q":"My child points to ask for things but not to share. Is that a concern?"},{"a":"Yes — early, play-based speech and communication support gently builds joint attention and gesture, often weaving sharing into everyday moments. Early guidance tends to help most, and a clinician will shape it to your child's strengths.","q":"Will speech therapy help if my child isn't pointing?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"do-children-usually-outgrow-not-pointing-to-show-things","title":"Do children usually outgrow not pointing to show things?","entity":{"key":"no-pointing","kind":"phenomenon","name":"Not Pointing To Show Things","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Speech-Therapy","value":"speech-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"behaviours","label":"Behaviours"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-makes-not-pointing-to-show-things-worse-in-a-child","title":"What makes not pointing to show things worse in a child?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-about-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-my-child","title":"When should I worry about not pointing to show things?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-young-children","title":"What causes not pointing to show things in young children?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-not-pointing-to-show-things-a-normal-part-of-child-development","title":"Is Not Pointing To Show Things Normal?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"why-does-my-child-not-point-to-show-me-things","title":"Why does my child not point to show me things?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-should-i-do-if-my-child-doesn-t-point-at-things","title":"What should I do if my child doesn't point at things?"}],"summary":"Some children who are slow to point to show things do catch up on their own, particularly when every other area of communication is developing well. Because pointing to share is a key social milestone, it is best gently observed and checked early — around 18 months if still absent — rather than simply waited out. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*When a little one doesn't yet point to share a discovery, it's natural to wonder — will this simply sort itself out with time?*\n\n## In short\nMany children who are a little slow to point **do catch up on their own**, especially when pointing is the only thing that's behind and everything else — eye contact, smiles, babble, understanding — is coming along nicely. But pointing to *show* things (sharing a bird, a balloon, a favourite toy just for the joy of sharing) is such an important social-communication milestone that it's best **observed gently and checked early** rather than simply waited out. Pointing to show usually emerges around 12–18 months; if it's still absent towards 18 months, a quick developmental check is wise — not because something is wrong, but because early support helps most.\n\n## Will my child outgrow it?\nIt depends on what's behind it:\n\n- **Often outgrown** — when a child is simply taking their own time, but is otherwise sharing attention with you: looking where you look, bringing you toys, babbling \"to\" you, enjoying back-and-forth play. Here, pointing tends to bloom a little later, all on its own.\n- **Worth a closer look** — when not-pointing comes *alongside* other things, such as limited eye contact, not responding to their name, few gestures (no waving or reaching-up), or not following your point. This pattern is less likely to resolve by simply waiting, and benefits from early guidance.\n\nThe honest answer: pointing to share is one of the clearest early windows into how a child connects. Rather than guess whether your child will outgrow it, a brief check gives you a clear answer and peace of mind.\n\n## When to seek a check\nA gentle developmental review is sensible if, by around **18 months**, your child does not point to show you interesting things, doesn't follow your point, uses very few gestures, or rarely shares enjoyment by looking from a toy to you and back. Pair this with how their words, play and responsiveness are coming along — the whole picture matters more than any single skill.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — **Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care**, never from an app or checklist. A clinician-led look at your child's [communication and social milestones](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) tells apart simply needing more time from needing a little support, and our warm [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) team can build playful sharing into everyday moments. Explore more on our [home page](/) to see how support is shaped around each child.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 and developmental guidance; CDC \"Learn the Signs. Act Early.\" milestone resources, which note pointing to show emerging in the second year; American Academy of Pediatrics guidance via HealthyChildren.org on early gesture and joint attention.\n\n**Next step —** Want clarity instead of waiting and wondering? [Book a developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate).","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-children-usually-outgrow-not-pointing-to-show-things","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-children-usually-outgrow-not-pointing-to-show-things","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"behaviours","label":"Behaviours"}],"meta_title":"Do Kids Outgrow Not Pointing To Show Things?","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Make sharing irresistible — point to a bird, a bus or a balloon yourself, gasp with delight and look back at your child, then pause and wait. Children learn to point by watching you point with joy.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:16:00.221239+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"why-does-my-child-not-point-to-show-me-things","title":"Why does my child not point to show me things?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-about-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-my-child","title":"When should I worry about not pointing to show things?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-not-pointing-to-show-things-be-an-early-sign-of-a-developmental-concern","title":"Can Not Pointing To Show Things Be an Early Sign of a Developmental Concern?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-worry-about-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-1-year-old","title":"Should I worry about not pointing to show things in a 1-year-old?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-a-frontline-worker-refer-a-child-showing-not-pointing-to-show-things","title":"Should a frontline worker refer a child not pointing to show things?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-developmental-conditions-can-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-child-point-to","title":"Absent Pointing to Show: A Clinician's Signs Guide","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-a-doctor-investigate-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-young-child","title":"When should a doctor investigate not pointing to show things in a young child?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":7},{"key":"causes","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-young-children","title":"What causes not pointing to show things in young children?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-1-year-old","title":"Why a 1-Year-Old May Not Point to Show Things","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore causes & influences","total":2},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-not-pointing-to-show-things-a-normal-part-of-child-development","title":"Is Not Pointing To Show Things Normal?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-should-i-do-if-my-child-doesn-t-point-at-things","title":"What should I do if my child doesn't point at things?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-makes-not-pointing-to-show-things-worse-in-a-child","title":"What makes not pointing to show things worse in a child?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-not-pointing-to-show-things-be-a-sign-of-autism","title":"Can Not Pointing To Show Things Be a Sign of Autism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-behaviours-often-occur-with-not-pointing-to-show-things","title":"What other behaviours often occur with Not Pointing To Show Things?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-teacher-support-a-1-year-old-who-shows-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-class","title":"How can a teacher support a 1-year-old who isn't pointing to show things?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-therapy-address-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-child","title":"How therapy addresses a child not pointing to show things","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-frontline-worker-respond-to-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-child","title":"How should a frontline worker respond to a child not pointing to show things?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-teacher-respond-to-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-young-child","title":"How should a teacher respond to not pointing to show things in a young child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-therapy-techniques-help-a-child-with-not-pointing-to-show-things","title":"Therapy techniques for not pointing to show things","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":10},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-help-a-young-child-with-not-pointing-to-show-things","title":"How to Help a Young Child Who Isn't Pointing to Show Things","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-do-i-handle-not-pointing-to-show-things-in-a-1-year-old","title":"How do I handle not pointing to show things in a 1-year-old?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":2}],"what_to_watch":"Watch whether, by around 18 months, your child points to show you interesting things, follows your point, uses gestures like waving or reaching up, and looks from a toy back to you to share enjoyment.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early. milestones"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP — HealthyChildren.org"},{"url":"https://icd.who.int","label":"WHO ICD-11"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:16:00.221239+00:00","meta_description":"Some children catch up on their own, but pointing to share is a key milestone. Learn when to gently check and how early support helps. Warm, parent-friendl","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}