Why pointing matters: Unpacking the power of this simple gesture
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Why pointing matters: Unpacking the power of this simple gesture

As a speech and language therapist, I’m often asked about the significance of seemingly simple gestures in child development. One question that comes up frequently is, ‘Why is pointing so important?’ It might seem like a trivial action, but pointing is a powerful communication tool and a critical milestone in a child’s development.

Why is pointing so important?

Let’s delve into the theory behind why pointing matters:

1. Pointing as pre verbal communication:

Before children can use words, they use gestures to communicate their needs and interests. Pointing is one of the earliest and most important gestures. It allows children to:

  • Request: ‘I want that!’
  • Protest: ‘No, not that!’
  • Direct attention: ‘Look at that!’
  • Share interest: ‘Wow, cool!’

2. Pointing and language development:

Pointing is not just about communicating in the here and now; it also plays a crucial role in language development. Research shows that:

  • Early pointing predicts later language skills: Children who point more often tend to have larger vocabularies and better grammar later on.
  • Pointing helps children learn new words: When children point at something, adults tend to label it, providing valuable language input.
  • Pointing supports joint attention: Joint attention, or the shared focus of two individuals on an object or event, is essential for language learning. Pointing helps establish joint attention, creating opportunities for communication and learning.

3. Pointing and social-emotional development:

Pointing is not just about language; it’s also about social interaction. It allows children to:

  • Engage with others: Pointing invites others to share their focus and participate in their world.
  • Express emotions: Pointing can convey excitement, curiosity, or concern.
  • Develop social understanding: By observing how others respond to their pointing, children learn about social cues and communication.

4. Pointing and cognitive development:

Pointing is linked to cognitive skills, such as:

  • Understanding object permanence: The ability to know that objects exist even when they are out of sight.
  • Categorisation: The ability to group similar objects together.
  • Problem-solving: Pointing can be used to ask for help or to indicate a problem.

5. Types of Pointing:

It’s important to note that there are different types of pointing, each with its own significance:

  • Imperative pointing: To request something.
  • Declarative pointing: To share interest or direct attention.
  • Informative pointing: To provide information.

If you have concerns about your child’s pointing or overall communication development, don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance from a speech-language therapist. Early intervention can make a significant difference in supporting your child’s communication journey.

How can we create opportunities for pointing?

  • ‘Where’s the…?’ games:
    • Play games like ‘Where’s the doggy?’ or ‘Where’s the ball?’ and encourage your toddler to point to the object.
    • Start with familiar objects and gradually introduce new ones.
  • Reading together:
    • When reading picture books, ask your toddler to point to specific objects or characters on the page.
    • Use phrases like, ‘Can you point to the puppy?’
  • Everyday activities:
    • During daily routines, ask your toddler to point to things they want or need.
    • For example, ‘Do you want the apple or the banana?’
    • When walking outside say ‘LOOK’ and encourage pointing.
  • Use of toys:
    • Use toys that have buttons or points of interest that when pressed make a noise. Encourage your toddler to point to the area that makes the noise.
    • Use toys that have many different parts, and ask the toddler to point to a specific part.

Model pointing:

  • Point yourself:
    • When you see something interesting, point to it and say the name of the object.
    • For example, ‘Look! A bird!’
  • Point to show choices:
    • When offering choices, point to each item as you name it.
    • For example, ‘Do you want the blue cup or the red cup?’ (Point to each cup).
  • Point to indicate direction:
    • When giving directions, point in the direction you want your toddler to go.
    • For example, ‘Let’s go that way!’ (Point).

Make it rewarding:

  • Respond to pointing:
    • When your toddler points, immediately respond to their communication.
    • Give them the object they want, or acknowledge what they are pointing at.
  • Use positive reinforcement:
    • Praise and encourage your toddler when they point.
    • Say things like, ‘Good pointing!’ or ‘You showed me the car!’
  • Show excitement:
    • When they point to something, show excitement, this will encourage them to point again.

Use specific techniques:

  • Use gestures and verbal cues:
    • Combine pointing with verbal cues and other gestures.
    • For example, say ‘Look!’ while pointing and nodding your head.
  • Simplify the environment:
    • Reduce distractions to help your toddler focus on the object you want them to point to.
  • Use exaggerated movements:
    • Use large, exaggerated pointing movements to draw your toddler’s attention.

Consider developmental factors:

  • Age-appropriate expectations:
    • Remember that pointing develops at different rates for different children.
    • Be patient and supportive.
  • Underlying issues:
    • If your toddler is not pointing by 18 months, or if you have any concerns about their development, consult with a speech and language therapist.
    • There may be underlying sensory or motor issues.

Key points:

  • Consistency is key. Practise these strategies regularly.
  • Make it fun and engaging for your toddler.
  • Celebrate every success, no matter how small.
  • If you have any concerns about your child’s development, contact your local health services.

Great toys and items for pointing

1. Interactive books:

  • Touch-and-feel books: Books with different textures, flaps to lift, and sounds encourage interaction and pointing. ‘Where’s the…?’ questions prompt pointing to specific features.
  • Books with simple pictures: Clear, uncluttered pictures make it easier for toddlers to focus and point to objects or characters.

2. Cause-and-effect toys:

  • Activity cubes: These often have buttons, dials, and levers that produce sounds or actions when manipulated, prompting pointing and exploration.
  • Pop-up toys: Toys where figures pop up or things happen when a button is pressed encourage anticipation and pointing to the action.
  • Simple musical instruments: A toy piano, drum, or xylophone encourages pointing to the keys/surfaces to make sounds.

3. Toys with parts to manipulate:

  • Shape sorters: Encourage pointing to the shapes and the matching holes.
  • Stacking cups or rings: Nesting cups or stacking rings invite pointing to select the correct size or order.
  • Puzzles with knobs: Simple puzzles with large knobs are easier for toddlers to grasp and point to the pieces.

4. Toys that encourage joint attention:

  • Bubbles: Blowing bubbles and following them with your eyes and pointing encourages joint attention (shared focus).
  • Balls: Rolling a ball back and forth and pointing to where it’s going can promote joint attention and turn-taking.
  • Wind-Up Toys: Wind-up toys that move across the floor can be exciting to follow with pointing.

5. Pretend play toys:

  • Toy telephones: Encourage pointing to the buttons and pretending to dial.
  • Dolls and stuffed animals: Pointing to the doll’s eyes, nose, mouth, etc., or asking the child to point to these features on themselves.
  • Toy food and dishes: Pretend play with food and dishes can involve pointing to request items or indicate actions (e.g., ‘Can I have the apple?’).

Tips for using toys to encourage pointing:

  • Get involved: Play alongside your toddler, modelling pointing and using language to describe what you’re doing.
  • Follow their lead: Observe what your child is interested in and use that to encourage pointing.
  • Limit distractions: Reduce background noise and visual clutter to help your child focus.
  • Use gestures and words: Combine pointing with words and other gestures (e.g., ‘Look!’ while pointing).
  • Be patient and positive: Celebrate all attempts at pointing and provide lots of encouragement.

Remember, the most important factor is the interaction you have with your child while playing. Use these toys as tools to create opportunities for communication and joint attention, and your toddler will be well on their way to mastering pointing!

Get in touch with me via my contact form if you need support

Sonja McGeachie

Early Intervention Speech and Language Therapist

Feeding and Dysphagia (Swallowing) Specialist The London Speech and Feeding Practice

The London Speech and Feeding Practice


Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

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Practical tips for speech and language development
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Practical tips for speech and language development

As parents, we all want our children to develop strong communication skills. This starts early, with the simple sounds and babbles of a new-born baby. Here are some practical tips to help you encourage your baby or toddler’s speech and language development through play and everyday activities.

General tips for creating a language-rich environment

  • Talk to your child frequently throughout the day: Even when they’re young, they’re absorbing information. Describe what you’re doing, name objects around the house, and respond to their babbling.
  • Read aloud regularly: Books are a great way to introduce new words and concepts. Choose books with simple language, bright pictures, and repetitive phrases.
  • Sing songs and nursery rhymes: These provide a fun way to practise pronunciation and rhythm.
  • Label objects: Put labels on toys, furniture, and everyday items to help your child associate words with objects.

Engage with your child in their play activities

  • Pretend play: Encourage imaginative play by pretending to be different characters or animals.
  • Build and create: Use blocks, Legos, or playdough to build and create different structures.
  • Outdoor activities: Explore the world around you. Talk about different plants, animals, and weather conditions.

Tips for effective communication

  • Get down to their level: When talking to your child, get down on their level to make eye contact and show that you’re listening.
  • Use simple language: Avoid using too many complex words or long sentences. In the early years (0–3 years) try and make things concrete, stay in the ‘here and now’ — point and gesture lots to help your child understand what you say
  • Be patient: Give your child time to respond and don’t rush them.
  • Model good language: Use clear and correct language yourself.
  • Speak in your native, natural Language: If English is your second language try and speak to your child in your native language: it is more natural and your will probably know better how to speak and sing to young children in your own native language.

Reading to your child

Reading to your child is a powerful way to boost their language skills and create lasting memories.

Reading to your child is more than just a bedtime ritual; it’s a powerful tool for fostering their language and literacy skills. Studies have shown that children who are read to regularly develop larger vocabularies, stronger comprehension skills, and a greater love of learning.

Why is reading so important?

  • Vocabulary expansion: When you read to your child, you expose them to new words and concepts. This helps them build a strong vocabulary, which is essential for effective communication and learning.
  • Improved comprehension: Reading aloud helps children understand the meaning of words and sentences. This improves their comprehension skills, making it easier for them to learn and understand new information.
  • Enhanced cognitive development: Reading stimulates a child’s brain and helps them develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and imagination.
  • Stronger emotional bonds: Reading together creates a special bond between you and your child. It’s a time for cuddling, bonding, and sharing stories.
  • The Reach Out and Read Foundation found that children who are read to regularly have significantly larger vocabularies and better language skills than those who are not.
  • A study published in the journal Paediatrics revealed that reading to children can have a positive impact on their academic achievement, even years later.

By making reading a regular part of your child’s life, you are investing in their future success. So, grab a book, get cozy, and enjoy the wonderful world of stories together!

Here are some great books I love using in my Speech Therapy sessions:

Books for 6 months to 2 years

Touch and Feel Books

  • Touchy-Feely Farm by DK Books: This book features different textures to explore, such as soft fur, rough bark, and squishy mud.
  • Baby Touch: Animals by DK Books: This book introduces various animals and their textures, like soft feathers, scaly skin, and furry coats.

Lift-the-Flap Books

  • Peek-a-Boo! Animals by DK Books: This book has flaps to lift revealing different animals hiding underneath.
  • Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill: A classic lift-the-flap book that encourages spatial awareness and vocabulary.

Pop-Up Books

  • Pop-Up Farm by DK Books: This book features fun pop-up elements that bring the farm to life.
  • Pop-Up Jungle by DK Books: Explore a vibrant jungle with this interactive pop-up book.

Sound Books

  • Sound Books: Farm by DK Books: This book features sounds that correspond to different farm animals.
  • Sound Books: Safari by DK Books: Listen to the sounds of various safari animals in this interactive book.

Interactive Books

  • That’s Not My… Series by Usborne: These interactive books feature tactile elements that encourage exploration and vocabulary.
  • Peek-a-Boo! I Spy by DK Books: This board book with flaps encourages visual tracking and vocabulary.

These books are designed to engage young children through their senses and encourage exploration. The repetitive nature of these books helps toddlers learn new words and concepts while having fun.

Books for 2 years ++

Classic favourites

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle: This colourful and interactive book is a classic for a reason. It introduces simple words, colours, and days of the week.
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle: This repetitive story helps children learn colours and animals.
  • Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill: A simple hide-and-seek book that encourages vocabulary and spatial awareness.

Modern classics for children 3 years – 6 years

  • The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: A fun and imaginative story that introduces more complex vocabulary and rhyming.
  • Room on a Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: Another rhyming story that encourages counting and vocabulary.
  • The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr: A playful and imaginative story that introduces various foods and social skills.

Books for children 6 years ++

  • The Adventures of the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: A philosophical tale that introduces complex vocabulary and themes.
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: A whimsical and imaginative story that introduces a variety of characters and settings.
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling: A classic fantasy series that introduces a wide range of vocabulary and concepts.

Remember: The best books for your child are the ones they enjoy. Encourage them to explore different genres and find stories that spark their imagination.

Please feel free to contact me.

Sonja McGeachie

Early Intervention Speech and Language Therapist

Feeding and Dysphagia (Swallowing) Specialist The London Speech and Feeding Practice

The London Speech and Feeding Practice


Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

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Bilingualism
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Bilingualism – should I speak only English with my speech delayed child?

Introduction

Bilingualism is a beautiful aspect of our diverse world. Growing up in a bi- or multi-lingual household is a wonderful gift, allowing children to communicate with a broader range of people and access many cultures.

My own two children grew up in a bilingual German-English speaking household. They have both been so enriched by this experience, not only language- and learning-wise but of course also culturally: their world has always been so open and colourful. Growing up in inner London and having their German family and mum’s friends as well, this has been a wonderful experience. Both my boys speak German well (not quite like native speakers but like very good second language speakers) and both have very easily learned 3rd and 4th languages additionally when in secondary school.

Whilst bilingualism has untold benefits, it’s not uncommon for bilingual children to take slightly longer to reach certain speech milestones. This should not be automatically mistaken for speech disorders but rather seen as a natural part of bilingual language development.

Bilingualism and speech delays

Sometimes, of course, we do see speech delays or disorders where a child’s speech development lags significantly behind their peers. We often see a delay in both languages equally, making it extra hard for to communicate effectively. BUT PLEASE KNOW the family speaking in multi-lingual languages never caused the delay/disorder!

If there is a delay or a disorder any number of other reasons could have caused it, such as:

  • hearing impairments,
  • reduced phonological awareness,
  • sensory processing issues,
  • reduced attention and reduced joint attention,
  • neuro-developmental delays or difficulties,
  • general or specific learning difficulties
  • or sometimes other genetic factors.

So, to say that the difficulty is due to a child being exposed to several languages is a red herring. (no offence to herrings!)

Speech therapy

Speech therapy can be powerful to help bilingual /multilingual children with speech delays unlock their full linguistic potential. By providing individualised assessments, targeted interventions, and involving families, speech therapy can bridge the gap between speech delays and bilingualism. It’s essential for the therapist and parents to work together to support the children in their unique linguistic journeys, helping them communicate effectively and thrive in both of their languages.

Happy Islamic family sitting on the floor
Image by Freepik

Speak your home language at home

Many parents report that they worry about speaking their home language at home and instead they have been focusing on just speaking English at home. They now rarely use their home language with their child. They fear that speaking a language other than English with their child will cause further delay and hinder their progress. All parents want the best for their child and often parents fear that their child won’t fit in or will be seen as ‘different’. So we can understand why parents feel that the English language is the only one worth having.

But the opposite is the case: it is crucial to speak in both languages freely, both at home and outside the home! Both languages will benefit your child, no matter what the delay or difficulty is. Acquiring a ‘mother tongue’ or native language is absolutely vital for children to have a good, solid linguistic grounding on which to build other languages. Bilingual children may mix languages during speaking and parents may equally mix their languages. This does not hinder language development and is a natural part of linguistic development.

Speak freely and naturally

What is far more important than the question: ‘which language should I say this in?’ Instead think: ‘let me speak freely and naturally, let me respond naturally, in good intonation and let communication flow freely to the child.’

Speech therapy can be a crucial resource for bilingual or multilingual children and their families.

We work on targeted interventions to address speech and language difficulties, helping your child develop essential communication skills. For home practice between therapy sessions, we can recommend tailored treatment plans to help you help your child in daily life. Our input could be focusing on articulation, phonological awareness, attention and listening, vocabulary development and grammar.

Family support is crucial in speech therapy. We like to work closely with parents to provide guidance and strategies for fostering language development in both languages at home.

If you have any worries about your child being delayed in a bilingual or multilingual household do get in touch and we will be happy to support you in your journey.


Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

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