What do body and hand gestures typically express in children?

Body and hand gestures are critical forms of non-verbal communication for children, enabling them to express a range of wants, needs, and ideas, especially in play contexts. Through gestures, children convey their interests, preferences for certain activities, and requests for help or engagement. For instance, a child might point to a toy they want, pull a caregiver towards a game, or use hand movements to show how they want to play.

Gestures can often communicate complex ideas that may not yet be verbalized due to developmental stages, allowing children to interact with peers and adults effectively. This aspect is particularly significant in early childhood when language skills are still developing. The capacity to convey wants and needs through gestures facilitates social interactions and supports the child's ability to navigate their environment and relationships.

While emotions and feelings, thoughts about adults, and physical comfort can also be expressed through body language, the primary function of gestures in young children often revolves around communication related to play and interaction, making the expression of wants, needs, and ideas a pivotal part of their development.