Worth it to teach 16mo old a few signs?

[snadaska]

MY DD is 16 months old. She knows words like "cup" and "snack" but usually does not use them to tell us she wants those things. More often than not she uses her amazing screeching skills and pointing to alert us of her needs.  

I'm wondering if I should teach her to sign for some things. DO you think this would be helpful? At this age, should I just do one sign at a time or could I try a couple? How long do you think it will take before she gets it? ANy other advice? TIA

[dakotablue]

Yes Totally, DS is younger but having some signs cuts down on tantrums a LOT and helps (I think) with the idea that we ask nicely for things/ communication can be done calmly.

I started with one a day, when he starts wanting something, (like eat, drink, more, up, down, book) I say do you mean you want "book" with sign. he will nod I will excitedly say "Oh you wanted 'Book"(with sign) He seems to have just picked up on it. I do not hand over hand force any signs.

Honestly I don't know what I'd do if DS couldn't sign and point (Usually If I don't understand he will keep pointing until I find it)...Oh and using the signs has increased his pointing and sometimes he makes up his own signs.

[AislinCarys]

I'd try with three signs, choose the most useful to your child (and possibly one you think your child might love - if she loves cats a cat sign is great, if she is fascinated by helicopters, a helicopter sign is fun).

Keep using just those sign until your child signs one back, then you can introduce a new sign. Once your child signs back a second sign, you can teach her whatever signs you like.

DD loved signing, and while it can take a month or more before they pick it up (at 16 months you could expect it to be much faster, though, maybe a week or 2), once she took off, it went quite fast, and she very soon used over 80 signs.

Good luck!

[journeywooz]

definitely!  it cuts the tantrums down soooo much.  and its such a great way to communicate.  19 mo DD gives us the weather report every morning when she wakes up and looks out the window. 

[cyclamen]

Originally Posted by snadaska 

More often than not she uses her amazing screeching skills and pointing to alert us of her needs.  

 ha ha ha!

And oh yes, 10000x yes, teach her the signs.  At 16 mo, her receptive language ability should be high so she will probably pick them up pretty quickly.   18 mo DD has begun making up her own signs in the last month by mimicking the motions that go along with certain songs/activities she likes.

[cloudbutterfly]

I'd definitely do it!  Signing really cuts down on the frustration level around here.  The only time we approach tantrum status at this point is when we can't let him do or have what he wants.  Even when we have to guess to figure out exactly what he's asking for, he understands it's a communication process and is willing to wait for us to figure it out while he repeats himself and tries to clarify.

I started with three signs, then started using as many as I could once he signed one back to me, especially when I played with or read to him and during mealtimes.  I think starting small is more for the adult than the child, especially as the baby gets older.  Think of how many spoken words they're exposed to day after day!

If you are willing to consider using a DVD, the Signing Time series is phenomenal, especially the first season.  Those DVDs really fueled my son's language explosion, and I feel like they've also contributed to his huge receptive vocabulary.  We get ours out of the public library.  I didn't think the Signing Time board books would be particularly great, but my son absolutely loves them as well, and they're quite sturdy.

[DusterGal72]

I have to agree with everyone else here. I'd definitely get her signing. My 19 mo. old daughter absolutely loves to sign, and it really does help to cut down on the tantrums.

I taught my DD as many signs as I could (nearly every word was signed and spoken at the same time). You'd be surprised how fast they learn when you're signing a lot! Emphasize the words she'd be using a lot, like "milk", "juice", "more", "want", "up", "down", and she'll probably pick up on them really quickly. :)

All the best.