The importance of gestures when learning how to talk

Gestures are often used alongside words when we talk to other people. Sometimes a facial expression says it all, totally replacing the need for words. Gestures embed meaning and are easier for your baby to use. When you listen to their words, look at their facial and body cues... they are trying to reinforce their meaning. 

Gestures are a non-verbal form of communication and can be made using individual body parts, multiple body parts or with the face.  

Your baby and gestures 

Gestures make up a big part of your baby’s communication. They support both language and social development.  

Usually, your baby will make a gesture to reinforce meaning. They might want to offer you something, make a request, share something with you, or show you where something is.^[1] 

Understanding and meaning 

You might notice that when your baby babbles and says a few words, they try to use gestures and facial expressions to support their meaning. These might be pointing, reaching, clapping or smiling.  

They are most likely to pick up gestures from watching people around them. When adults talk, they use gestures to support their speech. You may have used gestures to embed a meaning, such as blowing a kiss or a goodbye wave.  

When your baby watches you repeat gestures and words, it helps them to form a connection and be better able to produce a word and gesture on their own. 

Social connections 

Your baby is showing an interest in communicating with you and other people. They are eager to join in with conversations and share their emerging thoughts and ideas.  

They may start clapping while saying a person’s name that they have spotted in the park or point to a spilled drink, saying, “Oh no.” Their non-verbal gestures will not only make caring for them simpler but will also make it easier for your baby to engage with the world. 

Lifelong learning 

Noticing your baby’s words, body language and expressions will help you make sense of what they are saying to you. Understanding them boosts their language development as well as their self-confidence, sociability, sense of security and emotional maturity – not just now, but for the rest of their lives. 

References: 

[1] Boundy. L., Cameron-Faulkner. T., Theakston. A. Evidence Briefing How can our responses to babies’ gestures help with their language development? Lucid.