Pointing things out in books - what age?

[Greensleeves]

At what age would you expect a child to be able to point out objects on a page? For example, on a page with different animals on it, you say "where's the dog/cow/duck" and the child points with one finger to the correct one and says/tries to say the word? And ditto with images like apple/toothbrush/car... is there a different stage of recognising real objects and ones in photographs/cartoon-type representations?

Obviously I expect there to be an age range for this, as everything else, all children being different etc, and I am not making any points about what these skills might signify in later life, nor am I making any points about my own kids, so please don't jump on me (people who ask developmental questions do tend to get mashed a bit on MN!)

I guess it depends how much 'reading' you do with them, some kids can recognise the various animals from about 1 onwards, but obviously attempts at speech vary widely.

I'd say mine was 18 months when he started pointing at a varied amount of things, much younger for just 'cow' or something I'd pointed out a lot (gruffalo!)... by the age of 2.0 he points at everything in the books he owns and says the words for them (he can now say gruffalo, which is a toughy!), asks me about the ones he's forgotten and points constantly when we're out...which seems quite random, like yesterday 'mummy, cup! Cup of tea!' and I'm like 'what?!' he is of course pointing to a sign on a cafe across a dual carriage way lol...strange fella.

But then again the second I get bored and can't think of anything to do I read him a book, sometimes we get through 6 or more a day, just because I'm stressed and need a sit down!

DS2 didn't do this at all. He's part of a child development research project, and when I mentioned to them that he didn't point she freaked a bit, as it can be an indicator of ASD. But he's a bright little button, and as normal as normal can be!

12 months

I read somewhere that kids know that Tiddles, Tom (as in Jerry) and an illustration - however basic - are all cats. Clever innit?

Agree that it depends on how much you read to them.

DD was quite early, it says in her baby book at 10 months. Admittidly she was addicted to books at that age and so we used to look at a couple of books a day.

Before 12m (dd). About 14-15m (DS1). After 18m and only rarely (DS2, he just isn't into books).

autistic ds1 pointed with my hand quite early 12 monthsish I think if the book was familiar. He's pick my hand up and plonk it on the "were's the... can you see", maybe even a little before a year. DS2 can't remember but was probably doing this with his own hand 13-14 monthsish. DS3 (13 months) not remotely interested would rather be kicking a ball or scavenging food than looking at books. He'll happily point at real biscuits or toast.