What is the Importance of Pointing Skills in BabiesWhen babies start growing they begin to point out things in their surroundings to interact and communicate in their way. Babies do not speak or make people understand what they want, thereby they use pointing skills to share and interact in the early stages. Sometimes kids point out when they want something or need the attention of the people in their surroundings. Kids don’t know how to interact and when they get the attention they clap with joy whenever people respond to them and talk.
This is the quickest gesture that usually they learn, not by anyone but on their own. It seems simple to us, but it is something complicated thoughts and considerations that kids embrace in the quick gestures. Studies have shown that the way children point out implies that they know the future and present events, moreover they are aware of the objects that are not there.
The index finger they point means that they are telling you something, and when you point out something they quickly figure out what you are trying to tell them. This is a natural process by which children make people understand them.
Maintain and Encourage the Interaction
Children start to show the gestures when they see people around them as they want to interact and get their attention. Whenever you see your little one raising the index finger and pointing out anything, respond promptly with joy, and acknowledge your attention. As you show your presence and interact it increases the understanding of your child and enabling him to involve you in the process.
When you sing poems or anything and reading the stories around your baby is a good way to increase the interest in his/her surroundings. This makes the children respond to you in their way when you read stories they will point out the pictures when you sing they will move your hands, and when you play with the toys they show interest and try to copy. This will make pointing the finger a fun thing for your little one and they learn the pointing skills.
Language Development
In the early stages, toddlers don’t know how to speak and what is language. They try to communicate by pointing out things and try to communicate in their language. Well, pointing is something that stimulates your kid, as your little one got the visual way to communicate with you for whatever they want. This is the first step towards language development in children. Whenever your child points out any object from his/her surroundings tell him the name and for what purpose it is used.
There could be some Differences in Pointing Skills
Parents usually get worried when they see their children not responding or pointing out objects. Some children are quick learners and pointers and other children take adults to the object they want. When toddlers once start to develop verbal skills, they use words instead of gestures. But if the children are not using pointing skills or not seeking your attention till 18 months, then there is a need to contact the pediatrician.