A study by psychologists at the University of Chicago found that children who used their hands to convey meanings at 14 months had larger verbal vocabularies at four-and-a-half years, which is seen as one of the key predictors of school success.
The study involved 50 children who were videotaped while taking part in day-to-day activities with their parents or carers at the age of 14 months. Their vocabulary was then assessed at 54 months.
Researchers found that children from more affluent families tended to use gestures and had parents who frequently used gestures when they spoke. They concluded that the use of gestures could help to explain why children from higher-income families often have higher vocabularies when they start school.
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