Gestures are actions, usually made with your hands, that are a natural part of communicating. This can include pointing to something or shrugging your shoulders to say, “I don’t know.”

Gestures and learning to talk

Gestures give your child a way to communicate before they can say words.

Gestures help children understand words. Adding a gesture helps your child see what you’re talking about.

Adding a gesture to a word—as well as using facial expressions, body language, and showing a thing or picture—also makes it easier for your child to understand and remember a word.

Babies and toddlers who use more gestures, like pointing, tend to have larger vocabularies when they are older.

How to use gestures

Use gestures whenever you can. For example, you can use the gestures for eat or drink (raising your hand to your mouth) when your family is preparing or having a meal.

Use gestures during your daily routines, like getting dressed, bedtime, or diaper changes.

Say words with your gestures. Get on the same level and face your child so they can see your face and mouth.

Respond to your child’s messages no matter how they try to communicate with you. For example, if you think your child is gesturing “up,” copy them and say “up” slowly and clearly. Your child will be more likely to use the gesture again if you respond.

Here are some gestures you might use:

• giving, reaching, showing, pointing
• shaking your head “no,” nodding “yes,” hand up for “wait” or “stop”
• waving, thumbs up, high five, fist bump
• clapping, blowing kisses
• raising arms “up,” putting a finger to your lips in a “shhh” gesture, or shrugging “I don’t know”

Using “baby sign”

Baby sign means using some signs from languages like American Sign Language (ASL) or Langue de Signes Québécoise (LSQ) with spoken words for children.

Teaching a child baby sign is not the same as learning ASL or LSQ, which are complete and complex languages.

Studies show that baby sign doesn’t help children learn to talk earlier. Be careful with videos, flashcards, and books that claim baby sign will give your child better talking or thinking skills.

Children learn language when their parents and caregivers regularly notice and respond to their actions and sounds.

If your child is slow in learning to talk, they may become frustrated when they can’t express themself. They may cry, shut down, or have a tantrum. Using gestures, signs, or pictures can help your child communicate so they feel less frustrated.

Support for complex needs

If your child has complex communication needs and doesn’t speak, learn how to help them communicate their wants and needs in different ways at Supporting Your Child’s Complex Communication Needs.

Where to get help

To learn how speech-language pathologists and audiologists can help with speech, language, and hearing concerns, contact your child’s healthcare provider or visit Pediatric Rehabilitation.​​