What causes not pointing to show things in young children?

Pointing to share a discovery — "look at that!" — is one of the sweetest early signs that a child wants to connect, and when it's missing many parents quite rightly wonder why.

In short

Between about 12 and 24 months, most children begin to point to show you something — not to ask for it, but simply to share their delight. When a child isn't yet doing this, the cause can range from perfectly ordinary individual variation and late blooming, to reduced hearing, to differences in social communication that are worth understanding early. The point itself isn't the worry — what matters is the bigger pattern of how your child shares attention, looks to you, and connects. The reassuring truth is that this is a checkable, supportable area of development, not a verdict.

What can lie behind it

Sharing attention is a skill that develops. Pointing-to-show (called "joint attention") usually emerges around 12–18 months. Some children simply arrive at it a little later, especially if they are busy mastering walking or are quieter by temperament.

Common, addressable contributors include:

• Hearing differences — even mild or fluctuating hearing loss (often from glue ear) can quietly delay the back-and-forth that drives gesture. A hearing check is always a sensible first step.
• Fewer shared-attention moments — lots of screen time or limited face-to-face play can reduce the everyday chances to practise sharing.
• Overall pace of communication — pointing often arrives alongside babble, first words and other gestures; a general communication delay can carry it along.
• Social-communication differences — when not pointing sits within a wider pattern (limited eye contact, not responding to name, less back-and-forth), it can be an early signal worth a gentle look.

A child who shows you things through other means — bringing a toy, taking your hand, looking between you and an object — is already sharing attention, which is encouraging.

When to have it checked

Raise it with your developmental team if, by around 18 months, your child is not pointing to show, and there is little babble, few gestures, or limited response to their name — or at any age if you notice a loss of skills your child once had. Persistent parental instinct is itself a strong reason to check.

The Pinnacle way

Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from an article or an app. We begin by understanding your child's whole communication picture, not one gesture in isolation, and build from there. Explore how we support early communication, understand what the AbilityScore measures, or start with us.

Trusted sources

CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." developmental milestones; American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on early communication via HealthyChildren.org; WHO ICF framework on functioning and participation.

Next step — If your little one isn't yet pointing to share, a quick developmental check brings clarity and calm. Book a screen with a Pinnacle clinician.

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