Back again with a pointing question!!

[Raeleigh24]

hi

iv posted before about pointing.

my DS is 15mo and been pointing to things in books from about 12mo to body parts form about 14mo.

now At 15mo he’s started pointing at other things but he will only do it a couple times a day if that .

if we go to the supermarket or toy shop he will point to balls etc and shout ball ball ball or point at a car or something.

he’s once pointed at his bubble machine on the windowsill and said bubbles

family party on Saturday he was pointing like crazy at things disco ball the lights etc there was a lot going on and he was pointing like mad

but that’s basically it at home he will do it once or twice sometimes not at all . Today he’s pointed once at a ball on the floor at my sisters house he never seems to point to things in the park like birds or dogs.

is this enough pointing?

the only reason I’m so concerned about it is because we went for his 12m review ( at 13m as it was late ) and the health visitor mentioned about him not pointing but he passed all other questions on the form just not that one , she said she will give a call in a couple months time so should be soon and it made me go down a bit of a rabbit hole with pointing!

I would say not to worry because he is pointing at things that interest him. Maybe the birds and dogs at the park just aren't something he's interested in and similarly at home everything is familiar so there's nothing of new interest to point to. I would focus on his overall communication and the fact he is pointing and saying words rather than worry about how many times a day he is pointing. He understands the concept of pointing and using it as a means of communication which is the most important thing rather than the frequency

@gentlemum

thanks for replying!

yes I try not to worry as he’s got a massive list of positives as in 15 odd words his understanding seems really good he seeks praise quite a bit , brings things to me , toys but sometimes it will be a random sock off the floor or a tiny toy car .

so far today he’s pointed at things in the shop balls and cars on the shelves.

I had an orange in my hand earlier and he was walking about in the kitchen and spotted it and pointed to it saying orrr ( orange) and he’s pointed once at something on the tv.

as for the dogs on the park he just says dog when he sees one lol :/

I agree, it sounds like he's pointing to share interest plenty. Would he also point if he wanted something and couldn't reach it? Pointing also naturally falls away a bit as speech develops (point and shriek is effective, but words are even more so), so I wouldn't worry about that aspect of it either.

@skkyelark

would you call a few times a day plenty? Because I have a 17mo nephew who points like crazy all day at everything ( but he doesn’t have many words ) so I when my DS only points a couple times a day it just strikes me as odd and the fact that he’s only just started pointing at 15mo.

and no he doesn’t yet point to things out of reach but his speech has always been good if he’s hungry he will say apple nana orrr (orange) sometimes if his dinner is on the table but he can’t reach it he will stretch his whole arm/hand out and cry until he gets it if that makes sense.

@gentlemum

yes he definitely understands what pointing is because we sing wind the bobbin up and he does the actions so when the part that says point the the ceiling comes on he dose point to the ceiling and 9/10 him will follow my point but I’m just curious as to why he doesn’t point more than a couple times a day and if that’s normal for some children to just not point a great deal.

@Raeleigh24 I do think you're overthinking it, in the nicest possible way! I know it's hard not to worry and not compare to other kids but they really are all so different. If he is saying the word rather than pointing that is far far better and shows his developing communication skills. As his speech develops the pointing will slow down and eventually stop. My son is 19 months old and I've never counted the number of times he points per day but it definitely varies and often he points more in response to me asking him a question (I.e. where's 'the object') or he'll communicate what he wants through signing or reaching out or moving towards the object or just making a noise.

So the reason pointing is a bit of a special gesture because what it shows is actually quite complex mentally. Firstly, to follow a point, they have to understand to look where the finger is pointing, not at the finger itself. Then they have to realise that you don't automatically know what they're thinking – you haven't necessarily seen the big exciting bus over there. Then they have to realise that they can deliberately get you to focus on the same thing they are, by pointing (or by saying 'bus!', which is why pointing reduces as speech increases). And then there's the added factor of wanting to share the experience with you – they don't need help with something, they just want you to see it too!

Pointing a few times a day and following your point 9/10 times shows that, developmentally, he's definitely got all of the above. Most will also point when they want something they can't reach, but his whole-handed reaching may turn into that...or he may just go straight to saying what he wants. Either way, he's communicating his wants and needs to you and also communicating just because he wants to share something with you (bringing you things and pointing at things that interest him).

In terms of age when starting pointing, that's the very last question on that section of the 12 month questionnaire, and the way the scoring works, they never expect 6 out 6 yeses in a section to be in the 'development appears on track' range (actually 3 yes and 1 sometimes are enough in that particular one). So some babies are pointing at 12 months, for most it seems to emerge between 12-15 months, and I don't think it's considered 'late' until 18 months. So your DS sounds in the usual range, and like he's engaging and communicating in lots of other ways as well.

That's really long. Hopefully it's at least long and somewhat useful.

@skkyelark

Thanks for that it has put my mind to rest somewhat and definitely very useful I have a better understanding of pointing now so again thank you.

also the fact that he’s actually pointed quite a bit today

a ball stuck under his cot
at my lit candles and shouted hot hot hot
a banana in the fruit bowl
at me while I was eating an apple because he wanted some ( whingeing noises to go with it )
and his dad has taught him the colour orange so he’s pointed to a few orange things today saying orrrrr orrr lol

Hi any updates on your little one about pointing ? My dd is 16 months and only points at things in books and her body parts

@Vittoria123

hi

he started pointing like crazy after this post
he’s now 23 months and I don’t have any worries or concerns about his development at all .

he still points a lot , speaks in 5 word sentences etc he’s bright as a button. Loves playing with other children .

does she follow your point ? So if you point to some over the other side of the room does she look or tell you what it is ?