non verbal communication
When do children develop non-verbal communication?
Non-verbal communication starts in the first months and builds steadily: eye contact and social smiles early on, pointing, waving and gaze-following by 9–12 months, and rich gesture-plus-expression by 18–24 months. By ages 3–7 children read emotions and use body language to support speech. Ranges are wide; persistent absence of pointing or shared looks across settings is worth a friendly developmental check.
Long before the first word arrives, your child is already "talking" — with eyes, hands, smiles and pointing fingers.
In short
Non-verbal communication begins in the very early months and grows steadily through the toddler years. By around 9–12 months most children point, wave and follow your gaze; by 18–24 months they use a rich mix of gestures, facial expressions and shared looks. By ages 3–7 these skills become more sophisticated — reading others' feelings, taking turns and using body language to support speech.How non-verbal communication usually unfolds
- Birth–6 months — eye contact, social smiles, calming to a familiar voice
- 6–9 months — following your gaze, reaching to be picked up, babbling with expression
- 9–12 months — pointing, waving "bye", showing objects to share interest
- 12–18 months — nodding, shaking head, leading you by the hand, clearer facial expressions
- 18–24 months — combining gestures with words, simple pretend gestures
- 3–7 years — reading others' emotions, using and responding to body language and tone
The science
Gestures and shared attention are the foundation on which spoken language is built — pointing to share interest around 9–12 months is one of the strongest early predictors of later talking. These skills sit within the ICF communication domain (d3). Ranges are wide and normal; persistent absence of pointing, gaze-sharing or gestures across settings is worth a friendly check.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under the care of our qualified clinicians — never from an online read. Explore non-verbal communication, how we support early communication through speech therapy, and what the AbilityScore® is and how it is calculated.Trusted sources
Aligned with WHO ICF communication framework (d3), CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestones, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and ASHA guidance on early gesture and social communication.Next step — if your child isn't pointing, waving or sharing looks the way you'd expect, book a gentle developmental screen 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
Watch for no pointing or gaze-sharing by 12 months, no clear waving or showing of objects by 15–18 months, or any loss of gestures or eye contact already gained — these are worth a prompt developmental check.
Try this at home
Pause and follow your child's point or look — name what they're sharing ("Yes, the dog!"). This simple back-and-forth grows both gestures and words.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 540 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 should my child start pointing?
Most children begin pointing to share interest or to ask for things between about 9 and 12 months. If there's no pointing by around 15 months, it's worth a gentle developmental check — pointing is one of the strongest early signs that spoken language is on its way.
Is non-verbal communication a sign of how speech will develop?
Yes. Gestures, eye contact and shared attention are the foundation for talking. Children who gesture and share looks well usually go on to develop spoken language, which is why these skills are watched closely in the early years.
My child uses lots of gestures but few words. Is that okay?
Strong gestures are a good sign — they show your child wants to communicate. Many late-talkers catch up. If words are slow to come by age 2 alongside other concerns, a friendly speech and language check can reassure you and guide next steps.