Signalong for Toddlers
Most children begin to talk around 12 months old, but their desire to communicate starts much earlier. As a parent, it can be incredibly frustrating when your baby or toddler is upset and you don’t know why. Signing gives your child a way to express their needs, feelings, and preferences before they can speak, reducing the need for crying and whining.
One of the added benefits of using signing is that it can support your baby’s understanding and use of spoken language. It also encourages more meaningful interaction, helping to build a stronger bond between you and your little one.
Sign: Noisy
At 18 months, your child will be using lots of babbling sounds and should have a vocabulary of around 20 words. By the time they turn 2, their vocabulary will likely expand to over 50 words. Consistently labelling objects and talking about what you’re doing throughout the day will help them develop language skills.
Engaging in imaginative play, such as replicating actions on a teddy or doll, can be a fun way to encourage creativity. However, start with real-life scenarios, for example, you can encourage your child to feed a doll while they’re being fed themselves. This helps them make connections between actions and real-world situations.
At this stage, your child should be able to use everyday objects appropriately, like stirring with a spoon. They’ll start to understand that even though spoons might vary in colour, shape, or texture, they are all still used for the same purpose, which is an important step in their cognitive development.
Learning Resource
As your child grows, they will begin to understand that pictures and photographs can represent real objects and words. Incorporating signs while speaking will help reinforce this connection and support their learning.
When starting a signing session, ensure that your little one is comfortable and relaxed. Begin by using signs with real objects in real-life situations whenever possible. Always remember to use clear facial expressions and body language to support your words, as these help your child connect meaning with action.
At first, your child’s signs may not be perfectly formed, but that’s okay! Early attempts are a wonderful form of communication, and it's important to celebrate and praise their efforts, even if they’re not exactly right.
