Well, here it is - OH SO CLOSE!
It happened quite unexpectedly, too.
Just before nap time, we were all starting to settle down by snuggling on the couch. Mr. L. requested his "bobo," but none were to be found. We let him go upstairs to retrieve one from his crib, where quite a collection had amassed. (We're currently treading the fine line between safety and independence, so I stayed quite a bit behind as he climbed the stairs.) The next thing I knew, he was walking out of his room quite calmly and clearly requesting "hep" and signing HELP clear as day!
I know it won't be long until he's got that thumb up and his sign is picture perfect.
I was more than happy to reward his successful communication by helping him retrieve just the right pacifier from his crib. You can see for yourself how proud we both are!
After showing off for Daddy, we snuggled down for some wind-down time, and Mr. L. fell soundly asleep in my arms. Success!
I know it won't be long until his sign is picture-perfect. In the meantime, though, it really doesn't matter. I absolutely understand his requests, and he knows that he can ask for help without screaming, grunting or pointing.
Happy toddler, happy mama!
Good job, little one! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! I always enjoy watching little ones as their signs develop and change :)
DeleteWow, this is amazing! You are doing a wonderful job! Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving sweet encouragement behind. God bless you and your little guy! Cherish the moments, my friend. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by with such encouraging words!
DeleteHow fun. I loved teaching my kids how to sign. Visiting from the #RaRaLinkUp.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many fabulous reasons to sign with kids - and to keep signing once they start talking :) I'm glad you gave your family such a precious gift! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteGreat news on the signing. Enjoy every minute with him! Thanks for sharing your story and for joining the #RaRalinkup.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! Giving little ones early communication avenues via American Sign Language helps them communicate, but it also helps us enjoy them and get to know their little personalities all the sooner :)
DeleteWell done, him! It's fascinating how children develop with using signs and speaking. We did signs with my toddler and she loved them. She has a great vocabulary now, but she still likes to use certain signs and still knows lots of signs.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy watching little ones as they learn new signs and as their signs change and develop. Thank you for giving your little one the gift of early communication! There are so many benefits to signing - even as children get a bit older and start school - keep up the good work mama!
DeleteI have always found signing fascinating. I think you are truly a doll for teaching him at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many great reasons to teach infants, toddlers, and preschoolers American Sign Language - not the least of which is reduced frustration/tantrums from not being able to communicate their wants, needs, and interests! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to teach my own boys these skills and to share this passion of mine with other families as well. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThat is excellent thank you for sharing this with us at Good Morning Mondays. We taught our No 2 daughter some sign language and it was great and much better than the frustration of not being able to communicate. Blessings
ReplyDeleteFewer tantrums is just one of the great reasons to teach children American Sign Language - thanks for sharing such a precious gift with your family! There's lots of great reasons to keep using those signs you learned well into childhood. You put lots of time and effort into learning them, get all the benefit and time out of them that you can. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteMy youngest son was just diagnosed with hearing loss a few weeks ago and it's amazing how fast he's picking up the signs and he's GOOD at them. We did sign with my oldest and I'm ashamed to say we felt we were too "busy" with the youngest. The oldest has never been quite as clear, though it was interesting to see them develop over time. Mom and Dad are being signed correctly, though mom is done on the lips and dad around the eyes, but we get it!
ReplyDeleteWhat an overwhelming time for you! I'm glad you're choosing to incorporate ASL into your communication strategies; I'm sure you'll come to find that visual language makes a huge difference for him regardless of the extent of his loss and what other aids and spoken language avenues you also incorporate. Once kids are around 1, they start picking signs up very quickly - it's a lot of fun! My only caution to you would be to choose resources with care. Many (way more than I would have ever expected) signing resources meant for children are not 100% real signs. Sadly, many actually incorporate made up gestures.
DeleteAs an interpreter, as a teacher of infant/toddler sign language, and as a mom, I would be more than happy to chat with you off-line if you have any questions. Please don't hesitate to reach out! Keep up the good work mama!
My youngest daughter has a speech delay, so we taught her sign to help communicate. It worked wonders!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Inspire Me Monday!
I'm glad you found success with ASL! Signs can really offer an extra blessing to families working with a speech delay - access to communication while working on all the muscles needed for speech is priceless!
DeleteOh, that's so great! Being able to communicate is so empowering for the little ones. Thanks for linking up at the Manic Mondays blog hop!
ReplyDeleteCommunication is incredibly empowering, and that's just one of the many reasons ASL signs can benefit families and caregivers with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers!
DeleteThis is fantastic it give me hope that going to Sing and Sign will help our little lady communicate in the future. She is very busy moving around the room at the minute though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
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Thanks for offering your little one such a precious gift, keep up the good work! I'm not sure of the specifics of the program you are currently following, but I do encourageparents to use a program that is real sign (ASL or BSL) rather than one that incorporates made up gestures as real language is one aspect that can help speed up the time it takes to start seeing signs come back to you. Even still - patience is required. Don't give up - you will see great things happen!
DeleteThat is just so sweet. I remember when my oldest started to sign and we could understand what she was trying to communicate. It is so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and sharing with Littles Learning Link Up. I have enjoyed having you stop by and share. It has renewed my desire to teach the children signing, though they are getting older now.
Thank you for such kind words. I absolutely encourage you to sign with your children - at any age. Signs are great for early communication for infants and toddlers, help with concept development for preschoolers, and can be great as a new language to study in school as well as a fun way to practice other lessons. Please don't hesitate to contact me privately with questions or if you're looking for some materials.
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