You can teach your child signs if they are not yet talkers or are having trouble formulating words.
#1) Start with what motivates your child. What are their favorite items? Chip, jump, swing, ball, etc. Hold off on non-reinforcing signs like potty for now. Try starting with 3-5 signs, you be the judge of how quickly your child learns. You can buy a signing book or go to www.lifeprint.com/ to learn the signs.
#2) Set the scene, put out a few of your child's favorite items you want to teach them the signs for. Once they move towards an item or try to grab the item, block access to the item momentarily and model the sign for item. (NOTE: you can modify signs so they are easier for the child.) Then take their hands and do the sign for them. You have to be quick or your child will be frustrated they are not getting the item.
If your child gets frustrated it's OKAY! Put the item away and try again later, you may be leaving a screaming child on the floor, but they will learn quickly once they understand the concept, I sign, I get.
#3) Once you model the sign and the child models the sign with help IMMEDIATELY give the item. The rule is within 3 seconds, the child needs to get the item to connect the signing with getting the item. NO going to answer the phone while teaching signing.
#4) Repeat this process OVER and OVER until your child starts independently signing for items, the more you practice the more your child will sign. (NOTE: I like to use edible items so the child has to ask repeatedly for the item. If you use crackers break off tiny pieces so they have to ask for it more often and chose a time when your child is not satiated from lunch but is not so deprived of food you will see behaviors. If you are teaching "swing" or "jump" use the swing set and stop them ever few pushes so they have to sign again, same with a trampoline, jump with them holding their hands)
This is so fun to do with your kids, make it a positive experience and they will be signing all day! Questions? Problems? Let me know!
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Jen! I am so excited you are starting this blog, what a fantastic idea. I will definetely be checking back to see what you write about different topics. Hmmmm, so let me see if I can think of a question. So I used to work at a preschool where the parents of this little boy had been over potty training him and scolding him whenever he had an accident. At school he would poop his pants almost daily, I swear he was just stressed out about the whole thing. So Oliver just turned 2 and I wanted to know the best way to potty train without putting it on him too early, but also catching the right time so it doesn't pass. And is it better done with like a 3 day potty bootcamp like everyone says, or gradually...so that's my first question, love ya!
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