Teaching Gestural Imitation - PEC Imitation Series Part 4
At parent empowerment coaching, we highly emphasize the significance of gestural imitation along with object imitation.
Why is gestural imitation important?
Every gesture your child makes is a step in their growth. Before they start talking, children use gestures like pointing, reaching, and clapping. These aren't just simple actions. They are ways for your child to communicate and connect with you. Understanding these gestures helps us understand our children better.
Understanding Non-Verbal Signals in Your Child's Growth
As moms, it's important to notice and understand these gestures. For instance, pointing usually starts around 9 months. It's not just a gesture; it's a way for your child to talk to you without words. They tell us what they need or want, and how they feel. Recognizing these signs helps us support their language and social development. It's amazing how much a simple clap or wave can tell us about our child.
Early Gestures and Recognizing Autism Signs
Being alert to these early gestures is crucial, especially for signs of autism. If your child isn't pointing or showing interest in things like other children do, it could be a sign to pay attention to. Watching for these early signs is important. Catching autism early can make a big difference in your child's communication and social skills.
Here is a list of gestures kids use during the prelinguistic stage (Before they can talk)
Pointing. This develops around 9 months of age. Not being able to point is a red flag of autism
Reaching. Reaching and pointing often go together
Clapping. A child may clap when seeing something exciting
Waving. Waving goodbye or hello
Open palms. A child opens his hands and looks at you, wanting to be picked up
Holding out toys. This is another milestone- shared interest, also a red flag of autism. Your child holds out a toy and wants you to look at it.
Point to body parts. Point to diaper when they need a change. They point at their tummy when they are hungry.
What are some steps to teach gestural imitation?
| Gestures | What you say | Toy/Activity |
|---|---|---|
| finger to lip | shhhh! baby’s sleeping | baby and blanket |
| wagging finger to say “no” | no-no, naughty shark (in response to shark biting) | toy shark w/ open mouth |
| shoulder shrug with open palms up | where is it | any toy |
| arms out as if flying | it’s a plane/ it’s flying/ it flies | Airplane |
| cup hand around ear | What’s that noise?/ hear that? | Police car with light and siren |
Continue building your child's communication skills by exploring the other chapters in our PEC Imitation Series. Stay tuned for practical steps and strategies to enrich your child's learning journey.
Understanding the different types of imitation is the key to unlocking your child's potential. Reach out to us today and make imitation a powerful tool in your parenting arsenal.
