By Michelle Mady
My husband and I used to try to guess what each of our children’s cries meant when they were infants. We’d hear a high-pitched cry, guess that it meant a diaper change was needed, and then we would play the “why are you crying” game to find out that maybe they just needed a cuddle. But as our children’s motor skills developed a bit, we used some baby sign language to communicate. And I can say without hesitation that using baby sign language is a far more accurate way to deduce a child’s needs than our guessing game ever was.
Sign language is an amazing way to help children learn language, communicate, and build social skills. It also can increase their self esteem, too. Learning to communicate your needs can be very empowering for all of us, but especially for an infant. As they grow, children begin to advocate for themselves, have opinions about what they need (and want), and build relationships with the adults around them.
Learning to communicate your needs can be very empowering for all of us, but especially for an infant.
You can support your baby in these ways even by incorporating a few simple signs. Below are five of what I consider the easiest signs to teach your child that also have the biggest effect on building their skills and development. And remember, when teaching your baby a sign, make it yourself, then put your hands over their hands and do it for them. Do it often, as the repetition will help your child learn to do it independently.
“MORE”
This is a great sign to introduce during meal or snack times. Give them one piece of food, and when they are done, ask if they want “more.” Say the word as you sign it to them, helping them both learn to speak the word and communicate it with their hands. This tends to be the quickest sign children pick up, because who doesn’t want more?
How to: Gather your fingers and touch your thumb, making a flat “o” shape. Then touch your fingers from each hand together.
“HELP”
This is a harder sign to coordinate, and many times families use a variation of this. For my kids, they would put their fist on a flat hand and that was enough for me to know they were asking for help. “Help” can be taught during play time - ask if they want help and use the sign if a block falls or they can’t reach something.
How to: Make a fist, with a thumb up on one hand. Lay your other hand flat. Put your fist on your flat hand and raise it up.
“MILK”
In my house, “Milk” meant a drink of any kind, because as they grew older, they often wanted water or juice as well. But because infants drink so much milk there are plenty of opportunities to teach this sign. Introduce it during bottle time, as you are feeding them, to help reinforce the understanding of the word.
How to: Open and close a fist, as if you are milking a cow.
“EAT”
We all know that a hungry toddler often leads to a cranky toddler. This is another sign that can really help to get ahead of a meltdown as well as encourage your child to communicate their needs. Be sure to use it before meal times to let your child know what’s about to happen, further supporting their understanding and alerting them of a transition.
How to: Pinch your fingers and thumb together and move them toward your mouth.
“ALL DONE”
“All Done” is a sign that can be used to ward off a tantrum, and for this reason it is one of my favorites. Another meal time teaching session can help the child understand the meaning of the word and sign. However, use it during play as well to encourage your child to let others know that they need to move on. If you catch it quickly, it can minimize a sibling squabble over playtime.
How to: Put both hands up, palms facing your chest. Then flip both hands with palms facing outward.
Baby sign language can be really helpful to both the children learning and the adults teaching! New skills should always be taught during low stress times, but once learned, can really help during some moments of elevated emotions.
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About the author: Michelle is a mom of 5 children ranging in age from 5 to 15. As a toddler and preschool teacher, she shares experiences, activities and guidance to other parents, as both a parent and as a professional early childhood educator, at any stage of their parenting journey.
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