# How to Work on Non-Verbal Gestures at Home

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-nonverbal-gesture-with-my-child-at-home
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Non-verbal gestures like pointing, waving and showing come before first words. Build them at home by modelling a gesture, pausing for your child to try, and responding warmly — using daily routines, action songs, and reasons to reach or point. Little and often works best.

*Long before words arrive, children talk with their hands, eyes and bodies — a point, a wave, a reach-up to be held. These gestures are the bridge to language, and you can help build them at home.*

## In short
Non-verbal gestures — pointing, waving, showing, reaching, nodding, clapping — are early communication skills that come before and alongside first words. You can grow them at home through playful, repeated, face-to-face moments where you model a gesture, pause, and reward your child's attempt. Little and often beats long sessions.

## Simple ways to build gestures at home
**Model and pause**
- Wave and say "bye-bye" every time someone leaves, then pause and look expectantly — give your child a moment to copy.
- Point to interesting things together — birds, lights, a dog — and name them. Pointing to *share* (not just to ask) is a powerful milestone.
- Show your child how to clap, blow a kiss, or do "all gone" with open hands.

**Create reasons to gesture**
- Put a favourite toy or snack in sight but just out of reach, so your child reaches, points, or looks to you for help — then respond warmly and quickly.
- Offer choices held up in each hand ("banana or biscuit?") so reaching or pointing is the natural answer.
- Pause a fun game — tickles, peek-a-boo, bubbles — and wait for a gesture or look before you continue.

**Make it part of daily life**
- Use gestures with your words all day: nodding for "yes", shaking head for "no", arms up for "up".
- Action songs like *Twinkle Twinkle* and *Wheels on the Bus* pair words with movements your child can copy.
- Celebrate every attempt, even a small reach — your warm response tells your child their signals work.

## When to check with a professional
Most children point and wave by around 12 months and use several gestures before their first words. If your child rarely uses gestures, doesn't point to show you things, or seems not to combine gestures with sounds, a gentle [developmental check](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) is a good next step — early support is gentle and effective.

## The Pinnacle way
Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under the care of a qualified clinician. Our therapists can show you how to weave [non-verbal gesture](/nonverbal-gesture) practice into your everyday routines, and our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) team supports the whole journey from gestures to first words.

## Trusted sources
Guidance here reflects child-communication milestones described by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the CDC's developmental milestone resources, and AAP family guidance via HealthyChildren.

**Next step —** message our team on WhatsApp (+91 91001 81181) to book a developmental assessment and learn play-based ways to grow your child's communication.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- ASHA — Communication milestones: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/communication-milestones/
- CDC — Developmental milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- AAP HealthyChildren — Early communication: https://www.healthychildren.org

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Find Activities: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/find_activities
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

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