Recognizing and Responding to Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is especially important for children who communicate without using spoken words. These children share their needs, emotions, and ideas through body language, facial expressions, gestures, and other nonverbal signals. By learning to recognize and respond to these cues, parents, caregivers, and others involved in the child’s care can create more meaningful and supportive communication experiences. Consistent and intentional responses help build connection, encourage interaction, and support the development of communication and early language skills. The video and visuals on this page provide practical strategies to help communication partners better understand and respond to nonverbal communication during everyday routines.​