What is a characteristic of the pre-verbal stage of communication?

Crying to communicate needs is a fundamental characteristic of the pre-verbal stage of communication. During this stage, infants have not yet developed the ability to use language but rely primarily on non-verbal forms of communication to express their needs and feelings. Crying serves as a crucial communication tool for infants, signaling various states such as hunger, discomfort, or the need for attention. This method of communication is instinctive and allows caregivers to respond appropriately to the child's needs before they can articulate these needs verbally.

Other options, such as formulating simple sentences, understanding contextual cues, and gesturing for attention, pertain to subsequent stages of communication development where children begin to use more complex forms of language and understanding. At the pre-verbal stage, the focus remains on basic, instinctual communications like crying.