{"h1":"When do children usually develop nonverbal communication?","faq":[{"a":"Most children begin pointing to ask for or share things around 12 months, and follow your point at a similar age. If there is little or no pointing by 12 months, a gentle developmental check is worthwhile.","q":"At what age should my toddler start pointing?"},{"a":"In toddlerhood, gesture and shared gaze are the foundation that words grow from. A child who points, shows and takes turns nonverbally is building exactly the skills spoken language needs.","q":"Is gesturing more important than talking at this age?"},{"a":"Rich gestures with shared attention are a reassuring sign. Words often follow. If words are slow to arrive by 18–24 months, a developmental check can offer reassurance and early support if needed.","q":"My child uses few words but lots of gestures — should I worry?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-nonverbal-communication","title":"Nonverbal Communication Milestones in Toddlers","entity":{"key":"nonverbal-communication","kind":"skill","name":"nonverbal communication","slug":"nonverbal-communication"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent / Family","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler","value":"toddler"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Milestone","value":"milestone"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"},{"kind":"ability","label":"Non-Verbal","value":"non-verbal"},{"kind":"assessment","label":"Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd ed.","value":"cars2"},{"kind":"language","label":"English","value":"en"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being","value":"3"},{"kind":"skill","label":"nonverbal communication","value":"nonverbal-communication"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"ASHA / PHC / Frontline","value":"asha_phc"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Therapist / Clinician","value":"therapist"}],"parent":{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing nonverbal communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-nonverbal-communication","title":"Is It Normal My Toddler Isn't Yet Using Nonverbal Communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-non-verbal-communication","title":"When should a child develop non-verbal communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-nonverbal-communication","title":"At what age should a child use nonverbal communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-non-verbal-communication","title":"When do children develop non-verbal communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-nonverbal-communication","title":"What if my toddler isn't yet showing nonverbal communication?"}],"summary":"Most toddlers use nonverbal communication — pointing, waving, showing, shared gaze — well before full sentences. Expect pointing and waving around 12 months, showing and head-shaking by 18 months, and gesture-plus-word by 24 months. The back-and-forth of shared attention is the strongest early sign, and a gentle check is worthwhile if gestures don't grow by 12 months.","answer_md":"*Long before the first word arrives, your toddler is already talking — with eyes, hands and tiny gestures.*\n\n## In short\nMost children use rich [nonverbal communication](/nonverbal-communication) — pointing, showing, waving and shared gaze — well before they speak in full sentences. Between 12 and 36 months you can expect a steady bloom of gestures: pointing to share interest, waving bye-bye, shaking the head for \"no\", and bringing objects to show you. These signals are the foundation of spoken language, not just a precursor.\n\n## The science\nNonverbal communication develops on a predictable arc:\n\n- **Around 12 months** — pointing to ask for or share things, waving, reaching up to be held, and following your point.\n- **15–18 months** — showing and giving objects, nodding or shaking the head, and using several gestures together with sounds.\n- **24 months** — combining a gesture with a word (pointing at a cup and saying \"milk\").\n- **By 36 months** — using facial expression, gesture and eye contact fluidly to take turns in \"conversation\".\n\nWhat matters most is the *back-and-forth* — your child looking to you, then to a toy, then back to you. This shared attention is the strongest early sign of healthy communication, even when words are still few.\n\n## When to check in\nIf by 12 months there is little pointing, gesture or response to name, or gestures fade rather than grow, a gentle developmental check is worthwhile — for reassurance as much as anything.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nDevelopmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from an online read. Learn how the [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) gives a structured baseline, and explore how [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) builds on a child's natural gestures to grow words.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAligned with CDC developmental milestone guidance, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and ASHA resources on early communication and gesture development.\n\n**Next step —** if you're curious or unsure about your toddler's gestures, book a gentle developmental screen with the Pinnacle team on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-do-children-usually-nonverbal-communication","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/when-do-children-usually-nonverbal-communication","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"}],"meta_title":"Nonverbal Communication Milestones in Toddlers","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Pause and wait after you point or wave — give your toddler a few seconds to respond. Naming what they point to (\"yes, dog!\") turns their gesture into your shared word.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:12:00.219358+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-nonverbal-communication","title":"At what age should a child use nonverbal communication?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-non-verbal-communication","title":"When do children develop non-verbal communication?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-nonverbal-communication","title":"What if my toddler isn't yet showing nonverbal communication?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-nonverbal-communication","title":"Is It Normal My Toddler Isn't Yet Using Nonverbal Communication?","reason":"Linked from this 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topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-one-everyday-therapy-activity-to-help-my-child-with-nonverbal-communication","title":"What is one Everyday Therapy activity for nonverbal communication?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-how-can-i-gently-help-a-child-practise-learning-to-nonverbal-communication-during-everyday-routines","title":"Helping Your Child Practise Nonverbal Communication at Home","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Watch that gestures grow, not fade: little pointing, waving or response to name by 12 months, or loss of gestures at any age, warrants a gentle developmental check.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11","code":"d3","label":"ICF d3"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC: Developmental Milestones"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP HealthyChildren: Early Communication"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org","label":"ASHA: Communication Development"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:12:00.219358+00:00","meta_description":"When do toddlers point, wave and gesture? A warm guide to nonverbal communication milestones from 12 to 36 months, and when a gentle check helps.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}