pointing... | Autism PDD

The pointing gesture is one that evolves -- it gets used for various purposes, first for getting needs/wants met and then for drawing attention to objects of interest (like an airplane). It starts out used alone, then is combined with words.

It should also be combined with eye contact fairly early -- looking to see that mommy and daddy are paying attention. At two years old, kids will start to limit pointing to something they think the adult has not noticed yet.

Here are the relevant milestones from First Signs:

Does your baby:

At 12 Months:

Use a few gestures, one after another, to get needs met, like giving, showing, reaching, waving, and pointing?

At 15 Months:

Use pointing or other “showing” gestures to draw attention to something of interest?

At 18 Months:

Use lots of gestures with words to get needs met, like pointing or taking you by the hand and saying, “want juice”?

http://www.firstsigns.org/healthydev/milestones.htm

When is a child considered late to point?

I am sure my dd was pointing at 18 months...she had a Wiggles Christmas book and she would always point at the pics and say "who this?" I dont really remember her pointing much before that...I wish I could remember more. I found her on vide tape pointing at an airplane. I thought this was great until it hit me that she was over two.

Thanks:)

Our son never pointed until we taught him at about 3-3.5 yo. We never really noticed he didn't do it until our daughter came along and she started pointing about 11 months... it was like "wow- how unusual".....

Difficulties that children with autism have in pointing and showing objects to other people may start from earlier problems with simple face-to-face interaction, children's difficulty in responding to face-to-face interaction is strongly related to the problem with pointing and showing. Children who do not point or show objects to the adult were those most impaired in face-to-face interaction.

also popinting involves wanting to know what something is and most of the time children with ASD or not intrested in things that a normal child would want to show like a fire engine and so on a child should be doing

sam does not point nor ever ha but we do pointing exercises

with books abacus and so on

we also do things like

we alk round and say

sam's blanket,sams thomas all the time holding peter pointer and touching what it is.also if you do pecs and your child can do sentances ,ake a strip saying

I WANT +++ then whatever picure he brings

hold is finger as though pointing make him an extension of your arm and read and point

i want drink while touching each word do it again before you hand him the drink

love shell

spectrummum39319.0555324074

Indicators of Normal Development
Age	Skills or Abilities Awareness and Thinking	Communication	Movement	Social	Self-help

birth- 3 months	Responds to new sounds Follows movement of hands with eyes Looks at object and people	Coos and makes sounds Smiles at mother's voice	Waves hands and feet; Grasps objects; Watches movement of own hands	Enjoys being tickled and held; Makes brief eye contact during feeding	Opens mouth to bottle or breast and sucks

3-6 months	Recognizes mother Reaches for things	Turns head to sounds and voices. Begins babbling. Imitates sounds. Varies cry.	Lifts head and chest; Bangs objects in play	Notices strangers and new places Expresses pleasure or displeasure Likes physical play	Eats baby food from spoon Reaches for and holds bottle

6-9 months	Imitates simple gestures Responds to name	Makes nonsense syllables like gaga Uses voice to get attention	Crawls Stands by holding on to things. Claps hands. Moves objects from one hand to the other	Plays peek-a-boo. Enjoys other children Understands social signals like smiles or harsh tones	Chews Drink from a cup with help

9-12 months	Plays simple games. Moves to reach desired objects Looks at pictures in books	Waves bye-bye Stops when told "no." Imitates new words.	Walks holding onto furniture Deliberately lets go of an object. Makes markes with a pencil or crayon	Laughs aloud during play Shows preference for one toy over another Responds to adult's change in mood	Feeds self with fingers Drinks from cup

12-18 months	Imitates unfamiiar sounds and gestures Points to a desired object	Shakes head to mean "no." Begins using words. Follows simple commands	Creeps upstairs and downstairs Walks alone Stacks blocks	Repeats a performance laughed at Shows emotions like fear or anger Returns a kiss or hug	Moves to help in dressing Indicates wet diaper

18-24 months	Identifies parts of own body. Attends to nursery rhymes. Points to pictures in books	Uses two words to describe actions Refers to self by name	Jumps in place. Pushes and pulls objects Turns pages of book one by one. Uses fingers and thumb	Cries a bit when parents leave Becomes easily frustrated Pays attention to other children	Zips Removes clothes without help Unwraps things

24-36 months	Matches shapes and objects Enjoys picture books Recognizes self in mirror Counts to ten	Joins in songs and rhythm. Uses three-word phrases. Uses simple pronouns Follows two instructions at a time this should give you a general idea	Kicks and throws ball Runs and jumps. Draws straight lines Strings beads	Pretends and plays make believe Avoids dangerous situations Initiates play Attempts to take turns	Feeds self with spoon Uses toilet with some help