Use Sign Language and Books to Potty Train Your Baby and Toddler

When your toddler is showing signs of being ready to use the toilet - an awareness of being soiled, hiding in his favorite corner to have privacy while he has his bowel movement, a fascination with watching himself tinkle or watching daddy tinkle - it’s a good idea to begin reading books about going to the toilet. There are many books about going to the bathroom, but the ones that focus on normalizing the defecation and urination process in all people and animals, helps the toddler realize that he is just like everyone else. The sign for going to the bathroom is simply the letter ‘t’ and shaking it. While there are many words that we use to mean ‘going to the bathroom’ - ‘poo poo’, ‘pee pee’, ‘bathroom’, ‘potty’, ‘wee wee’, ‘doo doo’, etc. - there is just one sign that you use to mean ‘potty’. Having multiple words or vocalizations for the one word, can be confusing. If you focus on teaching the sign for ‘potty’ through the books, and by consistently using the same simple sign every time you or your spouse use the toilet, every time you take him to the potty, you will have simplified the learning process, and have increased the chances the child will be able to successfully communicate the idea of using the toilet.

Baby Sign Language Games: The Snow Globe

Baby Sign Language is a great tool to encourage interaction between children and adults. One of my favorite ways is through making art projects!


How many of you have a snow globe at home? Did you receive it at Christmas from a family member? Did you buy it when you were on vacation? You shake it for a few seconds, get really excited for a few minutes…and then forget about it until next time.

Making homemade snow globes is a fun and simple activity. It requires team work between the child and the adult and allows both of you to spend time together. Your snow globe could be a new ornament to decorate your house or even a present for a family member!

I made it with my kids one afternoon, and it was a great way for my kids to learn new signs and to have a lot of fun too!

If you follow the instructions below, you and your child can easily make a snow globe together. You can put any small toy or figure that your child really likes to sign: a little dog, a boy, or his or her favorite animal.


How to Make a Snow Globe

1 medium-sized clear plastic container or a baby food jar

White glitter (I used gold, and the colored glitter doesn’t work as well)

Glue gun

Small plastic figure of your child’s favorite sign

Cold water

1. Wash container and remove label.

2. Using a glue gun, attach the plastic figure or decorations to the inside of the jar lid.

3. Fill the jar ½ inch from the top with cold water.

4. Add glitter.

5. Screw lid on the jar. Let it set overnight with the lid side up.
The next morning, you and your child will have a wonderful surprise waiting for you! Now that the snow globe is ready, you can have a fun and interactive meaningful playtime. You can even introduce new signs or reinforce existing signs with your child.

First, SHAKE the snowball and sign WAIT.
Wait for the glitter-rain to fall down…sign WAIT again.

Then sign RAIN and SNOW. You can sing The Itsy Bitsy Spider and use the RAIN and SNOW signs. (See our free iPhone / iPad app to learn how to sign along!)

Ask your child WHERE IS _________?

Sign WAIT…and then reveal the little figure! Here it is!

What other signs would you sign in this activity?

Sign  & Shine,
etel

Sign Language Aids in the Development of Emotional Intelligence

A mom shared with me the story of being at a restaurant with her six-year old child who has cerebral palsy. A nice woman came over to their table and give her child a balloon. With a huge smile and perfect eye contact, the child signed, 'Thank you'!

Not only is 'thank you' a word that does not represent a concrete object and requires that the child understand the situation and think abstractly; it also is a word that requires the child to think beyond the world of 'self' and to demonstrate feelings toward another person. Sign language allows a young child to develop and better understand the impact he has on others. When you teach a young child manners using ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry, he can begin to see the positive impact he has on others and begin to develop his emotional intelligence. When he hurts others, he realizes that it doesn't feel good, and he says he's 'sorry'; when he gives others a hug, or a ‘thank you’, he knows it makes them feel good and happy. These acts of personal engagement are important aspects of emotional intelligence. People with high emotional intelligence will find themselves at a great advantage in life.

Babies Who Have a Means to Express Themselves Are Happier Babies

A child is naturally curious. He is born into this world with a desire to learn. If we nurture this desire by giving him a means with which he can express himself, then he will continue to find joy in learning. As we have observed in so many young babies, they are able to understand what we say to them well before they are able to talk or express themselves. And when they are unable to express themselves, they often become frustrated. In other words, their minds are actually processing the language they hear and creating thoughts, yet their vocal chords are still developing and so they are limited in how they may express themselves. By introducing sign language to your baby, you are enabling your child to now have a means through which he may express himself; hence, the joy of learning, the joy of being understood, and the feeling of respect and empowerment continue to grow.

Project Nim: Baby Sign Language with Chimps

Project Nim, a movie about a chimpanzee named Nim Chimpsky, the most famous primate to make a dent in the human world as a result of his participation in a landmark linguistics study.


The documentary follows 1973 Columbia University project intended to teach primates sign language. Is that a form of Baby Sign Langauge.

Did you watch the movie?

Is signing a form of communication when words are not enough?

I didn't watch the movie, yet, but I would love to get YOUR input.


Let the Sign Shine,
etel
http://www.signshine.com/
http://www.babysignshine.com/

How to sign FLAG, STAR and FIREWORKS?

Learning WITH your child is the best gift you can share with him or her.

Enjoy 4th of July signing dictionary.
You can cut the pictures to little squares and play memory signing game.

Have a SPARKLY, SHINY 4th of July,

Etel Leit, M.S.
Founder & Owner http://www.signshine.com/
Publisher http://www.babysignshine.com/

Sign & Sign Baby Sign Language Father's Day!

Want to suprise daddy with a fun baby sign language song?
Easy to learn song, sang to to the Tune of "Frere Jacques".

Happy Father's Day,
etel