Why Gestures & ASL Matter in Early Intervention: A Speech Therapy Guide for Parents

Supporting early communication doesn’t have to be complicated—and one of the most powerful tools we have in early intervention is gestures and simple ASL signs. Many parents worry that signing will delay speech, but research consistently shows the opposite: gestures help language grow.

Here’s why they matter and how they support early communication development.

1. Gestures Give Children a Way to Communicate Before Words Come

Children under 3 often understand far more than they can verbally express.

Gestures and early ASL signs—like more, all done, help, open, want—give toddlers a way to communicate their needs without getting overwhelmed.

This reduces:

• tantrums

• hitting or throwing

• screaming from frustration

When a child can communicate—even without words—they feel confident and understood. Communication becomes successful, not stressful.

2. Gestures Build the Foundation for Spoken Language

Gestures aren’t just a bonus skill—they are an essential developmental milestone.

Research shows that children who gesture:

• develop spoken language earlier

• have larger vocabularies

• communicate more intentionally

Gestures strengthen:

• joint attention

• imitation

• symbolic communication

• turn-taking

These skills are the building blocks for verbal speech.

3. Signing + Speech = More Language, Not Less

Modeling signs does not delay speech.

Instead, it gives children:

• a visual cue

• a motor cue

• the spoken word

More pathways = stronger learning.

When you pair the sign more with the spoken word, your child gets three ways to understand the concept. This makes meaning clearer and supports vocabulary growth.

4. Gestures Reduce Pressure & Make

Communication Fun

For toddlers with speech delays, speaking can feel hard. Gestures provide an easier starting point, which helps children feel:

• capable

• successful

• eager to communicate

When communication feels easier, children are more willing to imitate, engage, and participate—creating natural opportunities for language development.

5. Gestures Help Children Organize Their Thoughts

Signs are slower than speech, which gives toddlers extra time to:

• plan what they want to say

• coordinate their movements

• connect language to meaning

This is especially helpful for children who struggle with motor planning or expressive language.

6. Gestures Support Understanding

Some children need language shown in more than one way.

Signs offer:

• a visual representation

• a motor movement

• consistent symbol

This helps children who are:

• autistic

• late talkers

• gestalt language processors

• sensory-sensitive

• bilingual

• learning to follow directions

Signs clarify language and help children process it more successfully.

7. Gestures Encourage More Caregiver Interaction

Signing naturally creates:

• face-to-face connection

• slower, intentional communication

• warm, responsive interactions

These moments are exactly what builds strong early language pathways in the brain.

Simple First Signs to Model

Choose signs that meet everyday needs:

• more

• all done

• help

• open

• eat

• drink

• want

• stop

• go

• play

Use them naturally as you talk to your child—no pressure for them to sign back.

When Do Words Come After a Child Starts Gesturing?

Most toddlers say the spoken word after they’ve used the gesture consistently.

Here is the typical pattern:

1. Child imitates the gesture (e.g., signs “more”)

2. Child uses the gesture intentionally

   • They understand the meaning and use it independently.

3. Spoken word emerges

   • This happens because:

     • adults keep pairing the sign with the spoken word

     • the child now understands the concept

     • their motor skills have improved

For most toddlers, the spoken word appears weeks to a few months after a gesture becomes consistent.

Gestures open the door → spoken words walk through it.

Author: Amber Drew, C-SLPA