Sign language with infants and toddlers

http://youtu.be/PtYv1AL-CkQ


 When nonverbal children have a means of expressing their wants and needs it reduces frustration for the adult as well as the child. Just think of how often your young child wants or needs something but you are not sure what it is. Your child becomes exacerbated with you and you become completely frustrated with the whole situation. Sign language is one way for communication to take place between adults and children to limit the times of frustration.

There is much research in the child development field implying that using sign language with your young child enhances not just language development, but also cognitive development, fine motor development, and - if used correctly - social and emotional development.

The tips at the beginning of the video are essential. Only use the signs that are important to your child. Children need concrete ways to build the connection between language and their environment. Remember to use the signs in context and continue it (often for months) until your child picks it up.

Giving Toddlers "Jobs"

In my last post, "The Toddler Creed...", I mentioned that you can help ease challenging behavior that your toddler may be expressing by giving them tasks. This video is a great example of how to engage your child in a tasks that revolves around the families daily life. The more you allow your child to do that is with in their capabilities, the less they feel the need to control or gain power over because they already feel like they have power in their world.

http://youtu.be/xbYBaj9H-Eg

Toddler Language Development Video

http://youtu.be/fCl3LSEJRig

This toddler is very talkative....good luck understanding what she is saying. You can tell by the child's face that even her mom's interpretations are very wrong! Although this video makes the point that toddlers often babble, and use expressive jargon to communicate to adults who simply do not get it hilarious, it can often times be very frustrating for your child and for you. Stay tuned for more ideas on how to promote language development and easy some of the frustration in the toddler world of language!

Language Development in Infancy

http://youtu.be/X2KV3il-dBs

This video clearly demonstrates how to play with an infant in a manner that is not only engaging for the infant (probably gets old for the adult) but also reinforces the infant's language development. The infant and adult are both using "cooing" as a form of communication. This is the foundation of how children learn the "your turn then my turn" of a conversation.

Try having many of the "conversations" with your infant. Go further, too, and speak with your infant about what is happening in their environment while allowing them to have their end of the "conversation". For example, as you are holding the infant in your arms getting ready to lay them down to change their diaper: "I'm going to lay you down for a diaper." (PAUSE) Infant may or may not respond physically or with cooing. "Let's pull your pants down." (PAUSE) Infant may or may not respond. Adult notices child is looking up a the ceiling. "Hmmm I see you looking up there. What do you see?" (PAUSE). Infant may or may not respond.....I think you get the picture! This type of "conversation" is simple and it connects to the everyday events that your infant is already a part of, which not only promotes language development but also cognitive and social development.