NonVerbal Communication
Working on Nonverbal Communication at Home
Build nonverbal communication at home through warm, playful back-and-forth — face-to-face play, gestures paired with words, shared-attention games like peekaboo and bubbles, and responding to your child's looks, reaches and points as real messages. Little and often works best.
Long before words arrive, your child is already talking — with their eyes, hands, face and whole body. Tuning into that conversation is one of the most powerful things you can do at home.
In short
Nonverbal communication — eye contact, pointing, gestures, facial expression and shared attention — is the foundation that spoken language is built on. You can grow it at home through playful, repeated back-and-forth moments during everyday routines. The aim is simple: notice your child's signals, respond warmly, and gently model your own.Everyday activities you can try
Get face-to-face and follow their lead- Sit at your child's eye level during play and meals so faces and gestures are easy to see.
- Watch what they look at or reach for, then name it and respond — this teaches them their signals "work".
Make gestures part of daily life
- Pair words with actions: wave for "bye", clap for "yay", arms up for "up", palms out for "all gone".
- Offer choices held in each hand so pointing or reaching becomes meaningful ("banana or biscuit?").
Build shared attention and turn-taking
- Play peekaboo, rolling a ball back and forth, or blowing bubbles and pausing — wait for them to look at you or gesture for "more" before continuing.
- Use big, friendly facial expressions and pause expectantly; the pause invites them to respond.
Read and respond to their cues
- Treat reaching, looking, pushing away or pointing as real messages, and answer them as if they spoke.
- Imitate their sounds, gestures and expressions — children love being copied, and it grows the back-and-forth.
Little and often beats long sessions — a few playful minutes woven through the day is ideal.
When to check in with someone
These activities suit most children and carry no risk. If by around 12 months your child rarely points, shows or follows a point, makes little eye contact, or doesn't use gestures like waving, it's worth a friendly developmental check — not a cause for alarm, simply a chance to understand and support.The Pinnacle way
At Pinnacle Blooms Network, we strengthen nonverbal communication through play-based speech therapy that meets your child where they are. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — never from an online read. With 25 million+ therapy sessions and 4.95 lakh+ families supported across 70+ centres, we help you turn everyday moments into communication wins.Trusted sources
Guidance here is consistent with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association on early communication, the CDC's developmental milestones, and the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren parenting resources on play and interaction.Next step — for a play-based plan tailored to your child, book a developmental assessment with our team on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
By around 12 months, look for pointing, showing, following a point, eye contact and gestures like waving. If these are rarely present, a friendly developmental check helps — it's monitoring, not alarm.
Try this at home
During play or snacks, pause expectantly after starting a fun action (bubbles, peekaboo) and wait — a look or gesture for 'more' is your child taking a communication turn.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-11 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
At what age does nonverbal communication develop?
Nonverbal communication begins from birth and builds steadily — eye contact and smiling in early months, then gestures, pointing and shared attention through the first year. These skills lay the groundwork for spoken language.
How long should I spend on these activities each day?
Little and often works best. A few playful minutes woven into routines like meals, bath and play throughout the day is far more effective than one long session.
My child uses gestures but few words — is that a concern?
Gestures are a healthy and important step, and many children gesture before they talk. If you'd like reassurance or notice limited eye contact and pointing too, a developmental check can help you understand your child's profile and next steps.