# What does it mean if my child is not yet showing nonverbal communication?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Nonverbal communication — pointing, waving, eye contact, showing you things — usually appears between 9 and 18 months, before words. If your toddler isn't yet showing these, it isn't a diagnosis; it means a gentle developmental check is wise now, because these gestures are the foundation words grow from and early support works best.

*If your toddler isn't yet using gestures, eye contact or those little nonverbal ways of "talking" to you, noticing it now is one of the most loving things you can do.*

## In short
Nonverbal communication — pointing, waving, showing you things, reaching up to be lifted, looking from a toy to you and back — usually appears between 9 and 18 months, well before clear words. If your toddler isn't yet showing these, it does not mean anything is wrong, and it is certainly not a diagnosis. It simply means a gentle developmental check is wise now, because these early gestures are the foundation that spoken words grow from — and early support works beautifully.

## What to watch (12–36 months)
Nonverbal communication is the bridge to speech, so these are the gestures worth noticing:

- **Pointing & showing** — pointing to ask for something or to share "look at that!", holding objects up to show you.
- **Eye contact & joint attention** — looking from a toy to your face and back, following where you point.
- **Social gestures** — waving bye-bye, nodding, shaking head, reaching arms up to be picked up.
- **Responding to name** — turning when you call.
- **Any loss** — if your child once did these and has stopped, that always deserves prompt review.

A child who isn't yet pointing or sharing attention by around 18 months, or shows few gestures by 24 months, is simply telling us it is a good time to look more closely — not raising an alarm.

## The science
Gestures and shared looking are the earliest building blocks of language; children typically gesture before they speak, and rich nonverbal exchange predicts later talking. That is why screening tools like the ASQ-3 watch communication and social skills together. Noticing early turns small differences into early opportunities.

## The Pinnacle way
A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Our clinicians build your child's own communication baseline and shape playful support around their strengths. Learn more about [nonverbal communication](/non-verbal) and how our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) team gently grows gestures into words.

## Trusted sources
CDC "Learn the Signs, Act Early" milestones; WHO and Nurturing Care framework on early childhood development; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) guidance on communication milestones and developmental screening.

**Next step —** Trust what you've noticed. [Book a developmental check](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) with a Pinnacle clinician so your child's communication is reviewed with clarity and care.

## Sources
- ICF d3: https://icd.who.int/browse11
- CDC: Learn the Signs, Act Early milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- AAP: Communication milestones and screening: https://www.healthychildren.org
- WHO Nurturing Care Framework for early childhood development: https://nurturing-care.org

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Skills: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/skills
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Toddler: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/age/toddler
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Concern: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/concern
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Book Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/book-assessment
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## Related question paths

### Recognise signs & concerns
- What if my toddler isn't yet showing nonverbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-nonverbal-communication
- Is It Normal My Toddler Isn't Yet Using Nonverbal Communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-nonverbal-communication
- What does it mean if my child is not yet showing non-verbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal-communication
- Is it normal that my child is not yet showing non-verbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal-communication
- Is it normal that my toddler is not yet showing non-verbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal
- Nonverbal Communication Milestones in Toddlers: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-do-children-usually-nonverbal-communication
- At What Age Should a Child Be Non-Verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-should-a-child-non-verbal
- Could difficulty with non-verbal skills be a sign of developmental delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/could-difficulty-with-non-verbal-be-a-sign-of-a-developmental-delay
- What signs suggest my child may need support with non verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-non-verbal
- When Do Children Usually Start Talking?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-do-children-usually-non-verbal
- What to do if a child in your care is not yet talking: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal
- By what age is a child non-verbal, and what should a teacher expect?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/by-what-age-is-a-child-usually-expected-to-non-verbal-and-what-should-a-teacher-expect-in-class

### Understand assessment
- What does the amber zone for non-verbal skills mean?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- My child is in the green zone for Non-Verbal — what does that mean?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- Red zone for non-verbal — what it means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- How a clinician assesses and tracks non-verbal communication progress: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-clinician-assess-and-track-a-child-s-progress-in-learning-to-non-verbal

### Explore therapy & support
- How can a teacher support a child working on non verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-teacher-support-a-child-working-on-non-verbal
- What therapy helps a child learn to communicate when non-verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-therapy-helps-a-child-learn-to-non-verbal
- Amber Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Green Zone for Non-Verbal — What Should We Do Next?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Red Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Techniques to help a non-verbal child communicate: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-therapist-what-techniques-help-a-child-develop-the-ability-to-non-verbal
- How can a teacher support a non-verbal student?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-teacher-support-a-student-who-is-still-learning-to-non-verbal
- Prioritising amber-zone non-verbal communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal
- How should a therapist prioritise a child who is in the green zone for Non-Verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal
- How should a therapist prioritise a child in the red zone for non-verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I help my non-verbal toddler communicate at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-help-my-child-with-learn-to-non-verbal-at-home
- An Everyday Therapy activity for a non-verbal toddler: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-one-everyday-therapy-activity-to-help-my-child-with-non-verbal
- Helping a Non-Verbal Child Communicate Every Day: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-how-can-i-gently-help-a-child-practise-learning-to-non-verbal-during-everyday-routines