Pointing to ask for something (imperative pointing)
The first type of pointing you probably noticed your baby use, is making a request. Your baby might have looked at their favourite toy and gestured towards it, then looked back at you.
Pointing to show someone something (declarative pointing)
The second type of pointing, one you might be starting to notice now, is to show you something – this might be pointing at someone who walks into the room or at an interesting object. This is known as declarative pointing and can be a great way for your baby to start, or continue, a conversation.
Declarative pointing can have different purposes: your baby might be showing you something to share their interest or emotion (for example, they might point to share their excitement at seeing a friend or relative) or they might point to share information with the person they’re chatting to.
Pointing to ask a question (interrogative pointing)
Your baby might point to ask, “What’s that?” or simply to find out more about something they find interesting.
Why is pointing important?
Pointing is linked with social, language, cognitive and physical development. When your baby uses their index finger to point (known as the canonical pointing gesture),[1] they bring together these skills to achieve a goal, which includes the pointing gesture but will also include what happens before and after they point.
Your baby’s use of pointing (and other gestures) shows their understanding of communication and helps them to deepen this understanding. So, when you respond to your baby’s points with expressions of interest, information or more conversation you are helping them to learn about talking (even if they aren’t saying much yet!).
So now you know why your baby’s pointing is so important, what should you do?
Respond to your baby’s pointing
With all these possibilities your first task when your baby points might be to work out exactly what their point means – and then respond to what you think they’re saying (or asking) as they point.
Encourage your baby to point
One great way to do this is to point yourself. When you are chatting with your baby, or looking at a book together, point at something you think they will find interesting. Start with things that are close by and then point to things that are a little further away.
Play finger rhymes and sing songs that have actions, wiggling their fingers will help your baby to gain the control they need to point with their index finger (and curl their other fingers away).
If your baby is 12 months old and doesn’t point at all have a chat with your health visitor or a speech and language therapist to get more advice.
References:
[1] Rohlfing, K.J., Luke, C., Liszkowski, U., Ritterfeld, U., & Grimminger, A. (2022). ‘Developmental paths of pointing for various motives in infants with and without language delay’. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), Article 4982.