{"h1":"Is Not Pointing To Show Things Normal in Child Development?","faq":[{"a":"Most children begin pointing to show or share interesting things by around 12–16 months, usually looking back at you to check you've noticed. Children vary, so some show interest in other ways first — bringing toys, leading you by the hand, or vocalising.","q":"At what age should my baby start pointing to show things?"},{"a":"Not necessarily. Some children share in other ways before a clear point appears. If your child is past 16–18 months and rarely points, follows your gaze, or brings you things to share, a gentle developmental check is a calm, reassuring way to understand how they communicate.","q":"My toddler isn't pointing yet — should I be worried?"},{"a":"Pointing to request means \"I want that\" — reaching towards a snack out of reach. Pointing to share means \"Look at that!\" with a glance back at you to enjoy it together. The sharing kind, with to-and-fro eye contact, is an especially lovely early communication sign.","q":"What's the difference between pointing to ask and pointing to share?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"is-not-pointing-to-show-things-a-normal-part-of-child-development","title":"Is Not Pointing To Show Things Normal?","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-does-it-mean-if-my-child-doesn-t-point-at-things","title":"What does it mean if my child doesn't point at things?"},{"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?"},{"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":"my-child-doesn-t-point-at-things-should-i-be-worried","title":"My child doesn't point at things — should I be worried?"},{"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":"when-should-my-child-start-pointing-at-things","title":"When should my child start pointing at things?"}],"summary":"Learning to point develops on its own timeline, and most children begin pointing to show or share things by around 12–16 months, often glancing back to check you've noticed. Not yet pointing isn't a cause for alarm, but if a child past 16–18 months rarely points, shows toys or shares attention, a gentle developmental check helps. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*When your little one points at the moon, a dog, a favourite biscuit — and looks back at you to share it — that small gesture is one of the biggest moments in early communication.*\n\n## In short\nYes — learning to point develops on its own timeline, and not every baby points at the same age. Most children begin **pointing to show or share things they find interesting (called \"declarative\" pointing) by around 12–16 months**, usually looking back at you to check you've noticed. If your child is past 16–18 months and rarely points, waves, shows toys or shares attention, it's simply worth a gentle developmental check — not a cause for alarm. Pointing is one piece of a bigger picture of how a child connects and communicates.\n\n## Why pointing matters\nPointing to *share* (not just to get something) is a lovely early sign of social communication — it shows your child wants to bring you into their world. Babies often point in two ways:\n- **To request** — \"I want that\" (pointing at a snack out of reach).\n- **To show or share** — \"Look at that!\" — glancing back at you to enjoy something together.\n\nThe second kind, with that to-and-fro eye contact, is the one clinicians especially love to see. Children vary, though: some show interest by leading you by the hand, bringing objects, vocalising or using their whole body before a clear point appears. So a child who isn't yet pointing may still be sharing in other ways.\n\n## When a check helps\nA gentle developmental review is sensible if, **by around 16–18 months**, your child:\n- rarely or never points to show you things,\n- doesn't follow your point or your gaze to look where you're looking,\n- seldom brings or shows you toys, and\n- isn't combining gestures with eye contact and sounds.\n\nThis isn't a diagnosis — it's an early, reassuring way to understand how your child communicates and whether a little extra support would help them flourish.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nThis is general guidance, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed **only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care**. If you'd like clarity, our team can map your child's communication strengths and gently fill any gaps. Explore [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/), our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) programme, and how a [clinician-led AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) builds a complete picture of your child.\n\n## Trusted sources\nCDC \"Learn the Signs. Act Early.\" milestone guidance notes pointing to show interest around 15–18 months; the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) describes gestures like pointing and waving as key early communication milestones; WHO developmental guidance frames gestures within the wider social-communication picture.\n\n**Next step —** Curious about how your child shares and communicates? [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/is-not-pointing-to-show-things-a-normal-part-of-child-development","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/is-not-pointing-to-show-things-a-normal-part-of-child-development","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"behaviours","label":"Behaviours"}],"meta_title":"Not Pointing To Show Things: Is It Normal?","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Point things out yourself all day — \"Look, a dog!\" — and pause to share your child's gaze; narrating and modelling pointing during play and walks invites them to join in.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:16:00.221239+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"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":"Linked from this answer"},{"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":"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-a-1-year-old","title":"Why a 1-Year-Old May Not Point to Show Things","reason":"Same topic"},{"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":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore causes & influences","total":2},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-doesn-t-point-at-things-should-i-be-worried","title":"My child doesn't point at things — should I be worried?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-doesn-t-point-at-things","title":"What does it mean if my child doesn't point at things?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-my-child-start-pointing-at-things","title":"When should my child start pointing at things?","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":"do-children-usually-outgrow-not-pointing-to-show-things","title":"Do children usually outgrow not pointing to show things?","reason":"Same topic"},{"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":"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":12},{"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":"By around 16–18 months, watch for a child who rarely points to show you things, doesn't follow your point or gaze, seldom brings or shows toys, and isn't pairing gestures with eye contact and sounds.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early. milestone guidance"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP HealthyChildren.org — early communication milestones"},{"url":"https://www.who.int","label":"WHO — child development guidance"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:16:00.221239+00:00","meta_description":"Most children point to share things by 12–16 months. Learn what's typical, what to watch for, and when a gentle developmental check helps.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}