Gestures point way to improved skills in children, say scientists

Pre-school children can be given a flying start in language and maths if their parents interact with them correctly, research suggests.

Studies show a strong link between gestures, pointing at objects and the ability of very young children to pick up vocabulary, say scientists.

Relating numbers to the real world, for instance by counting chicken nuggets on a plate, was said to be important for promoting understanding of maths.

Psychologists attending a major scientific meeting in Boston, US, said the critical time for language was around the age of one, before a child had even learned to speak.