“My child isn’t talking yet.”
It’s one of the most common concerns parents bring to us. And while it’s natural to focus on spoken words, communication begins long before a child’s first word. Children communicate from infancy — using gestures, facial expressions, eye gaze, sounds, and actions to share what they want, need, think, and feel.
Learning to recognize these early communication attempts helps you understand your child today, and it gives you more ways to support their language development tomorrow.
What Counts as Communication?
Communication is any intentional way a person shares a message with someone else. Talking is one way to communicate, but it is far from the only one.
Children communicate long before they can speak. Every smile, point, gesture, sign, or sound is an opportunity to connect with the people around them — and every one of those moments is a chance for you to respond.
Ways Children Communicate Before They Talk
Your child may already be communicating by:
- Pointing to a favorite snack or toy
- Reaching for something they want
- Looking between you and an object
- Bringing you an item they need help with
- Pulling you by the hand
- Using facial expressions
- Waving, clapping, or using other gestures
- Making sounds or vocalizations
- Using signs
- Using pictures or an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device
Every one of these is a meaningful form of communication.
For example, when your child brings you a snack container, they may be saying, “Can you help me open this?” When they point toward the backyard, they may be saying, “I want to go outside.”
When adults recognize these moments as communication, children learn that their message matters — and they are more likely to keep communicating.
What if my child repeats phrases from shows or songs?
Some children learn language in whole chunks rather than single words, a pattern known as gestalt language processing. If your child repeats lines from a favorite movie or song, that is communication too — and there are specific strategies that support it.
Why Early Communication Is the Foundation for Language
Before children learn to have conversations, they first learn that communication has a purpose. They discover that their actions, gestures, sounds, or words can:
- Ask for help
- Request a toy
- Protest or say “no”
- Share excitement
- Get someone’s attention
- Connect with others
As these early skills grow, language tends to become more flexible and complex over time. Every child develops differently, and there is no single path to effective communication.
How to Encourage Communication at Home
Supporting communication doesn’t require flashcards or long practice sessions. Children learn through play — and supporting communication inside of play is where the magic happens.
Follow your child’s interests
Join the activities your child already enjoys. When children are engaged and motivated, communication happens more naturally. This is the same principle behind our play-based ABA therapy: we start with what the child already loves.
Respond to every communication attempt
Whether your child uses speech, gestures, signs, AAC, or eye gaze, acknowledge the message and show them you understood. Responding consistently is a form of positive reinforcement — it tells your child that communicating works.
Model simple language
Use short, meaningful phrases during play and daily routines, without expecting your child to repeat them. “Open.” “More bubbles.” “All done.”
Create opportunities to communicate
Offer choices, pause during a favorite activity, or place a desired item in sight but out of reach. Those small moments of “I need to tell someone” are what build communication.
Celebrate connection over perfection
The goal isn’t a perfectly formed word. It’s helping your child successfully share their thoughts, feelings, and wants with the people around them.
For more strategies you can use today — including vocal play, play routines, and core words — see our guide on what to do when your child isn’t talking yet.
When to Reach Out for Support
Research consistently supports early intervention over a “wait and see” approach. If you have questions about your child’s speech, language, or overall development, an evaluation is a reasonable next step — not an overreaction.
Our autism and developmental evaluation support page explains how the evaluation process works and where Dallas-area families can start.
Supporting Communication Across ABA, Speech Therapy, and Home
Children make the most progress when communication is supported consistently across every environment. Whether communication is being encouraged during ABA therapy, speech therapy, or everyday family routines, children benefit when caregivers and professionals work toward the same goals.
When families, speech-language pathologists, BCBAs and RBTs, and the rest of a child’s team collaborate, they create meaningful opportunities for communication all day long — not just during a therapy hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pointing really communication?
Yes. Pointing is one of the clearest early signs that a child understands communication has a purpose — they have a message and a person to share it with. Pointing to request something and pointing to show you something are both meaningful milestones.
Will using sign language or AAC keep my child from talking?
This is one of the most common worries families raise. Current research does not support the concern that AAC or sign language prevents speech; these tools are generally used to give a child a reliable way to communicate while spoken language continues to develop. Your child’s speech-language pathologist can explain how this applies to your child specifically.
How do I know if my child’s communication is on track?
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association publishes age-based communication milestone checklists that many families find helpful as a starting point. If something feels off, an evaluation can give you a clearer answer than waiting will.
My child is already in ABA. Do they also need speech therapy?
It depends on your child’s goals, and the two services address communication differently. We cover this in detail in Does my child need speech therapy if they’re already in ABA?
Come See What Play-Based Communication Support Looks Like
At Let’s Play N Grow, communication is embedded in everything we do. Our team provides play-based ABA therapy and collaborative speech-language therapy using naturalistic, child-led strategies that support communication throughout everyday routines. Whether your child communicates through speech, gestures, signs, or AAC, our goal is to help them connect, participate, and be understood.
The best way to understand our approach is to watch it happen. Tour our Dallas center or Farmers Branch center and see how our team turns play into communication.
Already know what you’re looking for? Explore ABA therapy, speech therapy, or read answers to questions families ask most.