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Gestures and Language Skills
The use of gestures may begin to emerge between 9 to 12 months. “Opening and closing their hand repeatedly to receive, is their way of interacting and communicating that a child wants something,” notes Kristi. “A child may begin to clap their hands to show pride or excitement, raise their hand to wave bye bye”. By 18 months of age, a child can begin to combine gestures and words. “So the wave is accompanied by the words “bye bye” and a clap with an expressive “Yay!” notes Kristi. Play, talk, gesture, sing, laugh and enjoy your child by incorporating the following gestures into your child’s every day activities:
“I like to share with parents that there is a great deal of research that suggest gestures can accelerate your child’s communication skills,” explains Kristi. Some of the impacts seen include:
If you have concerns regarding child’s use of gestures, consult with your healthcare professional and check out the teli website at www.telipa.org. ![]() |
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![]() Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health. All rights reserved. |