THE IMPORTANCE OF GESTURE IN ENHANCING TODDLER COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study ascertained the importance of gestures in enhancing toddler communication and language development. The goal of the study is to ascertain the importance of gestures in toddlers’ communication by emphasizing how it might improve language development and strengthen the connection between the caregiver and the child. Gesture improves language development and strengthens the connection between caregivers and children. This observation was carried out within a space of sixteen months in Uke, Anambra State. The theories employed in the study are Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory and Ekman's Emotions Theory. While the former was used for toddlers who are from 3 to 9 months since the theory suggests that toddlers learn to use gestures by observing and imitating the actions of others, particularly caregivers and peers, in their environment, the latter was used in understanding how toddlers in My Baby’s Journey from 12 to 24 months expanded knowledge of how early childhood communication dynamics are shaped by gestures by using the video clip titled My Baby’s Journey and eight selected toddlers used for the study. The study investigated the complex relationships between gestures, language development, and caregiver-child interactions using an observational study design. The study's methodical observation and interpretation demonstrate that gestures play a vital role in toddlers' nonverbal communication by acting as vital instruments for conveying wants, feelings, and intentions. The result of this study concludes that toddlers use gestures as an essential part of their communication since they are strong instruments for social engagement, language development, and expression. The study recommends that to understand and meet the needs of toddlers, parents should be aware of their children's gestures, noting that the inability to do so may cause the child to experience psychological issues.