Children this age are adept communicators. They show what they want or need through actions such as pointing at a toy or leading you by the hand to open a door for them. When they crawl or walk to a caregiver, tap an adult's leg, or point to the book they want to read, they are using gestures to communicate a full sentence, such as "mum, I want you to read this to me." And when they roll a ball back and forth with an adult, they are learning about two-way communication and taking turns.
Effective communication skills are essential for feeling competent and forming relationships. The ability to have "conversations" using sounds and gestures allows babies to let others know what they're thinking and feeling. They may pick up an object and show it to you as if to say, "What's this?" This two-way communication is also important for their intellectual development, as their gestures are an attempt to figure things out. When adults respond to children's communications, they help them learn and show them that what they're "saying" is important.
