Pointing to pictures: how the skill grows from 14 to 30 months
Pointing to pictures means pointing to the right picture when asked, as in "Where's the duck?" It shows word understanding and links child, adult and book in shared attention.
Updated
Pointing to pictures: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Pats the page. Slaps near the picture you name.
Activities that fit this step
- Lap Book Point and Pause · 12–20 months · 3–10 min
- Photo Wall Flap Hunt · 13–22 months · 5–10 min
- Sticky Tab Page Turner · 14–24 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Points to a favorite. Points straight to the dog when you ask for it.
Activities that fit this step
- Photo Wall Flap Hunt · 13–22 months · 5–10 min
- Sticky Tab Page Turner · 14–24 months · 5–10 min
- Count-Along Picture Book · 15–27 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Points to many. Finds several animals, foods and people in familiar books.
Activities that fit this step
- Count-Along Picture Book · 15–27 months · 5–10 min
- Potty Picture Book Talk · 15–36 months · 3–8 min
- Where's the Dog? Book Hunt · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
Next step: Points to new pictures. Finds a named thing in a book they have never seen.
Activities that fit this step
- Potty Picture Book Talk · 15–36 months · 3–8 min
- Where's the Dog? Book Hunt · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Feelings Faces in Board Books · 21–33 months · 5–10 min
Top of the ladder (points to new pictures). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Where's the Dog? Book Hunt · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Feelings Faces in Board Books · 21–33 months · 5–10 min
- Hand-Wash Picture Steps · 24–36 months · 2–5 min
The pointing to pictures ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 14 to 30 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Follows your point
Looks at the picture you are pointing to on the page.
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Pats the page
Slaps near the picture you name.
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Points to a favorite
Points straight to the dog when you ask for it.
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Points to many
Finds several animals, foods and people in familiar books.
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Points to new pictures
Finds a named thing in a book they have never seen.
When pointing to pictures usually shows up
Pointing to things in a book when you ask, like "Where is the bear?", is a CDC 24-month milestone. Many children start with one or two favorites, often animals or family photos, and add more over months.
This page follows pointing to pictures from 14 to 30 months, a window that spans the 15-month, 18-month, 24-month and 30-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 8 activities practise pointing to pictures (2 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 36 months. 3 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 24 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve pointing to pictures. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 24 months | Points to the right picture in a book when you ask something like "Where is the dog?" |
Activities that practise pointing to pictures
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 3 language, 2 practical life, 1 early concepts, 1 fine motor and 1 social-emotional. Quickest to start: Hand-Wash Picture Steps (2–5 minutes).
Step 1: Follows your point
Step 2: Pats the page
Step 3: Points to a favorite
Step 4: Points to many
Step 5: Points to new pictures
Skills practised alongside
The activities for pointing to pictures most often also work on turning pages (4), understanding names of things (2), counting (1), first words (1) and following two-step directions (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Ask "Where is...?" about a picture your child already knows, then wait.
- Use family photos taped low on the wall for pointing games.
- Point and name a picture together today, then ask about it tomorrow.
What to avoid
- Turning every page into a quiz; mix comments with questions.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by 24 months your child does not point to pictures when you ask, or does not point at all, talk with the pediatrician.
Worried about pointing to pictures between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start pointing to pictures?
Pointing to things in a book when you ask, like "Where is the bear?", is a CDC 24-month milestone. Many children start with one or two favorites, often animals or family photos, and add more over months. The first step to look for: looks at the picture you are pointing to on the page.
How can I help my toddler with pointing to pictures?
Ask "Where is...?" about a picture your child already knows, then wait. Use family photos taped low on the wall for pointing games. A good first activity is Lap Book Point and Pause (12–20 months).
What should I avoid when practising pointing to pictures?
Turning every page into a quiz; mix comments with questions.
When should I mention pointing to pictures to the pediatrician?
If by 24 months your child does not point to pictures when you ask, or does not point at all, talk with the pediatrician. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.