Responding when a young child doesn't point to show things

When a little one doesn't yet point to share a moment, a teacher's warm, watchful response can open a doorway to connection.

In short

If a child between roughly 12 and 24 months isn't yet pointing to show or share things — like spotting a bird and pointing to make sure you see it too — a teacher's best response is to notice gently, build shared attention through play, and quietly observe over a few weeks rather than assume anything. Pointing to share (not just to ask) is an early communication milestone, so it is worth supporting and tracking, and flagging warmly to parents if it isn't emerging. This is a phenomenon to watch, never a diagnosis.

What a teacher can do

• Model pointing yourself, often and joyfully — point to interesting things and name them: "Look! A red bus!" Children learn to share attention by watching adults do it.
• Follow the child's gaze and join in — when they look at something, point to it, name it, and react with delight. This builds the back-and-forth of shared attention.
• Create "show me" moments — place a favourite toy slightly out of reach, or put surprising things in view, so there's a natural reason to share excitement.
• Pair gestures with words and faces — get down to the child's eye level, smile, and use big, clear gestures. Pointing grows alongside eye contact and shared smiles.
• Celebrate any attempt — reaching, looking between you and an object, vocalising — these are all stepping stones to pointing. Respond warmly to every one.
• Keep simple notes — jot down when and how the child shares attention over a few weeks. Calm observation gives parents and clinicians useful, real-world detail.

When to share a gentle word with parents

If, by around 18–24 months, a child still isn't pointing to show or share things, rarely follows your point, and shows little back-and-forth in looking and gesturing, it's worth a warm, non-alarming conversation with parents — framed as "let's get a developmental check, just to be sure everything's on track". Every child develops at their own pace; the goal is early support, not worry.

The Pinnacle way

AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from a classroom observation, app or online form. A teacher's notes are wonderfully helpful context, and a clinician-administered AbilityScore® assessment turns them into a precise developmental picture. If shared attention and early gestures need support, our speech and language therapy builds these skills through play. Explore more about early childhood development and how to help every child connect.

Trusted sources

CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestones on gestures and shared attention; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) guidance on early communication; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on early social communication and gestures.

Next step — Noticed a child who isn't yet pointing to share? Encourage the family to book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician.

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