Gestures for Communication
Parent places toys around the room and encourages baby to crawl toward desired toys while using gestures to communicate wants. The agent coaches the parent to observe pointing, help-seeking gestures, and social communication signals — building early intentional communication and motor coordination.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Parent and baby in a safe, open space with room to crawl. 3-4 favorite toys placed around the room within sight but not within immediate reach. Baby should be alert and ready to play.
How it works
- 1~30s
Start by showing your child the toys you've brought. Place them around the room — maybe one near the couch, another by a chair, a third by the wall. Now get down on their level and ask, 'your child, which toy do you want?' Watch closely. Does they look at a specific toy? Does they lift their arm or extend a finger toward it? Even a glance combined with a reach is a great start. Tell me what you see.
Watch for: Baby points or clearly gestures toward a desired object when asked what they want.
- 2~40s
Now let's make it a little trickier. If your child points to a toy that's slightly out of reach — maybe behind a cushion or just beyond crawling distance — watch how they asks for help. Does they point and then look back at you? Does they reach toward it, then make a 'give me' motion with their hands? Maybe they makes a frustrated sound while gesturing. These are all ways babies ask for help before they have words.
Watch for: Baby uses gestures to request help obtaining a desired object that is out of reach.
- 3~35s
Let's add a social element. When you give your child the toy they wanted, try waving and saying 'Bye-bye!' to the other toys. Or when you first started, did you wave 'hello' to the toys? Watch if your child imitates your waving or makes any other familiar social gestures during play. Even a small hand movement in response shows they is connecting gestures with social routines.
Watch for: Baby imitates or initiates social gestures like waving hello or goodbye within a playful context.