How to teach your toddler sign language
Teaching sign language to an older baby or a toddler can easily be incorporated into your daily life and can be an enjoyable activity for you both. Generally a child over 12 months will pick up signs quickly. Whether you are signing out of necessity because of a speech or developmental delay or hearing loss, or simply wish to bridge the gap between understanding language and being able to express it, sign language is an excellent communication tool that can be used by the very young.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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Observe your toddler. Some good beginning signs revolve around what toddlers do the most often and what they are most interested in. Some examples: drink, bed, bath, eat, ball, book and car. Favorite foods are a big hit too -- toddlers learn very quickly how to sign for what they would like to eat.
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Note 10 to 12 objects or actions to learn the signs for. Look them up in a sign language dictionary or on the internet (see Resource) and practice a few times before introducing them to your little one. A popular sign that many parents teach their little ones early on is "more." To sign "more," tap your fingertips together a few times.
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Show your toddler a sign when she is alert and calm. When doing an activity (such as eating) or is interested in an object or food, sign so that she can see the sign. You can also sign on your child, such as patting her head when you are showing her a hat. The sign "more" is most commonly used when requesting more food. Put a small amount of food on your child's tray. When she is finished, ask if she would like more, while using the sign.
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Repeat each sign once or twice. Remember to say the sign as you do it, and elaborate on each concept. For example, say, "Do you want to eat?" rather than a simple, "Eat?" Use every opportunity to sign to your little one. For example, in addition to signing "more" during meal time, you can incorporate it into your lives in other areas, such as asking if he wants more books, more water in his bath or if he can put more toys into his toy box.
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Continue to look up new signs as you and your toddler master each one. She may sign back to you at first using a generalized hand movement but if you pay attention you will notice she does the same gesture at the same time. Many toddlers will sign "more," for example, by pointing to the palm of their other hand. Over time they will refine the sign into a more exact version of your sign but as long as you recognize the sign it counts as mastery. Take note of new and exciting things in her life that she may want the sign for, and use signs to teach manners, such as "please" and "thank you."
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Tips & Warnings
Keep a sign language dictionary handy for situations where your child would like to know a sign but you haven't learned it yet.
Understand that children learn at different paces; if your toddler doesn't pick up signs right away, keep trying. Often toddlers will show they understand a sign before they can sign it back to you.
Sign language encourages speech development. According to Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn, who conducted research on sign language and spoken words, not only is there no delay in speech for children who sign, but speech is also augmented by sign language.
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