September 21, 2008

• Baby Signing

  I tried teaching our baby “baby signs” awhile ago when she was around 9 months.  That’s when they say it’s a good time to start, but I kept getting so frustrated that she wasn’t getting it right away (read:  there’s a paucity of patience within my reach) that I stopped.  But then a few weeks ago, I started noticing that she was learning how to point to things to tell us that she wanted something (she did not know how to do this before!).  In pointing, she was communicating.  So then I wanted to take it a step further.  I decided to try to teach her a very easy ‘sign’.  Whenever she would be inside her pack ‘n’ play or activity center or crib and wanted to come out, I would ask her “up?” and raise both my arms up.  I’d do it a few times and wait for her to imitate.  Since she didn’t get it at first, I’d sometimes bring her arms up and then I’d pick her up and get her out of that place.  After doing this for a few weeks, she started to understand a little.  She would raise her hands sometimes when she felt like it after I’d ask, “up?”  And then she got to a point where she really understood.  These days, she’ll stand in front of the pack ‘n’ play and just raise her arms up and wait for us to notice and put her in the pack ‘n’ play.  It’s a very deliberate motion of communication.  And, seriously, it is so amazing.

  Since she understood that, I decided to add a few other signs.  The next one was “more“.  And then I taught her, “eat” and “milk” and “all done.”  I can’t tell you how amazing it has been the last few days having her communicate with us.  I can’t believe it!  While she is not yet able to speak words, she is able to make these signs to tell us when she wants to eat or have more of something, etc, etc.  She’ll even go up to us and pat us on the leg when she wants our attention and then do the sign.  The decrease in tantrums and tears around here has been tremendous.  There are just no words to describe what is has been like to go from frustration from the lack of communication to real understanding.  I’m so proud of her for getting it!

  What a beautiful thing is communication.  I’m so glad God has given us so many ways to communicate with each other.

  The next sign I’m trying to teach her is help.  =)

  • 7:21 pm
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