Young children’s developing ability to integrate gestural and emotional cues

In three studies, children aged 22 to 46 months (N = 180) needed integrate pointing gestures or gaze cues with positive and negative facial expressions succeed in an object-choice task. Finding a toy required either choose (positive expression) avoid (negative the indicated target. Study 1 showed that 22-month-olds are better at integrating expression gesture compared gesture. 2 tracked integration of across development, finding unexpected, U-shaped trajectory group-level success only months. 3 already 34-month-olds succeeded when was replaced communicative gaze. These findings suggest end second year life, generally able emotional displays such as ostensive reevaluate contextualize utterances. addition, appear be understood by young call act on referenced object. Findings illustrate should studied conjunction draw ecologically valid picture development.