Gesture Descriptions by Category
Category	Gesture	Description
Action/Event	Diaper Change	Pat hip
	Play	Closed fist with pinky and thumb sticking out, hand rotating
	Wash	Two hands rubbing together as if running after water
Emotion	Happy	Open hands, palm out, to frame sides of face
	Mad	Clawed hand running in front of face (accompanied by furrowed brows)
	Sad	Draw forefinger down cheek
	Scared	Open palm tapping chest
Feeling/Sensation	Cold	Arms to side, figts clenched, shaking as in “Brrr”
	Gentle	One hand stroking the opposite arm
	Hurt	Closed fist tapping chest
	Loud	Hands over ears
	Sleepy	Folded hands laid against cheek
Nonsymbolic	Point	Using finger to point at something or someone
	Wave	Waving goodbye or hello
Object	Ball	Palm of hand down, motioning up and down as if bouncing a ball
	Bird	Arms or hands fluttering
	Car	Mimicking steering a wheel
Parent	Dad	Open palm, thumb tapping forehead
	Mom	Open palm, thumb tapping chin
Question	Where?	Palm of hands up next to shoulders
Request	More	Bunched fingers of both hands tapping together
	Outside	Fingers in claw shape (as if gripping doorknob), twisting
	Snack	Fingers of one hand together tapping mouth
Time	Later	Rotated right thumb/forefinger in open left hand
	Popsicle Time	Tapping back of palm to chin
	Wait	Right fist tapping open left hand
Yes/No	No	Head shaking from side to side as if saying “No”
	Yes	Nodding head up and down as if saying “Yes”

Note. All emotion, feeling, and time gestures are described rather than just a sample. Italicized gestures were used only by caregivers, as recorded either in our data or in data collected by the program.