How singing and signing helped my todder learn to talk

How singing and signing helped my todder learn to talk

Leo has just turned 20months (how?!!) and we have arrived at the ‘ sponge brain ‘ stage. You know what I mean, your toddler is starting to say more and more words and is copying things you say. I may have been a bit late in recognising that this stage had actually arrived though.

Following a minor accident in the kitchen and an annoyed outburst from myself, Leo said his first ‘naughty word’ the other day. It’s safe to say I was completely mortified and will be watching what I say very carefully from now on!

Apart from this small slip up, I am loving listening to Leo babble away and helping him to learn and develop his language and speech. Although he is at the age where he would be learning to talk anyway, I feel like singing and baby sign language are really helping him along in his journey to becoming a little chatterbox.

How singing and signing helped my toddler learn to talk.

Ever since Leo was tiny we have always sang to him and over the past month or so I am really starting to notice the benefits. Not only is he learning more words and sounds but he is learning some good little dance moves too!

Thanks to good old nursery rhymes Leo can .. .

Say all the farm animal sounds…Thank you to ‘Old Mcdonald’

Count to 4..nice one ‘5 in the bed’ (not quite mastered 5 yet!)

Locate and name various parts of the body..yep, that’s thanks to ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’

Dance…there is nothing that my boy enjoys more than a good little boogie!

No matter how busy your day is, you can always find a few minutes somewhere to have a sing song with your little one.

I think I may have mentioned in previous posts, Leo is a massive Mr Tumble fan. If you don’t know who I’m on about you should check out ‘Something Special’ on Cbeebies. The loveable Justin and his clown alter ego have taught Leo so much I don’t even feel guilty about letting him sit and watch the TV for 20 minutes. I have spent a long time trying to teach Leo to say please and thank you, Mr Tumble declares ‘it’s time to sign’ and now I have a toddler with perfect manners..ish. Although I do have to explain his random ways of communicating to family, not everyone knows the Makaton signs for food, please and thank you!

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I’ve noticed that once Leo has mastered a sign it is not long before he is saying the word and gives up on the hand gestures all together. We went to a baby sign class for 6 weeks when Leo was about 15 months, if you have the time and money I would recommend it. We learnt all the signs for basic baby needs and it’s just a great way to help you baby to start communicating with you. I would love to here how your little chatter boxes are getting on!

Leo is saying a new word pretty much everyday, I wonder what today’s word will be…?

Baby sign language benefits www.naptimenatter.com

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7 Comments

  1. mamavsteacher.com
    May 26, 2015 / 8:39 am

    O this is lovely, it's so exciting when they start using words properly. Sprog still signs "please" as well as trying to say it and has done for a really long time now! #TwinklyTuesday

  2. May 26, 2015 / 4:52 pm

    I'll have to see if I can find Mr. Tumble. We were pretty adamant about teaching our first sign language, after all I was decently fluent so it made sense. We were lax with number 2 since we were "too busy" and now we find out he has hearing loss so we need to hit that hard.

  3. May 26, 2015 / 9:25 pm

    This was lovely and encouraging to read. I've done two terms of song and sign classes with my baby, started when she was 6 weeks old so she's still too young to really sign but I'm sure she's beginning to understand and occasionally copy when I sign. It's great to read that you feel signing has supported your son's speech. #TwinklyTuesdays

  4. May 27, 2015 / 8:07 am

    I know it is so exciting..he says stuff and I'm thinking 'where did you learn that'?!aww so cute..Leo just says 'pwease' now.x

  5. May 27, 2015 / 8:10 am

    Ohh no..sorry to hear about your little one atleast you know sign language to teach him..I've just been learning with Leo. Mr Tumble is on Cbeebies or on YouTube..xx

  6. May 29, 2015 / 6:47 pm

    Aww wow..go you starting her so I early, I'm sure you start noticing the benefits very soon.i am convicted Leo is talking so well because of sign and singing xx

  7. Caro Davies
    May 30, 2015 / 12:25 pm

    It's amazing isn't it? The twins were 2 in March and one of the boys has amazing vocabulary, the other still speaks with words that no-one else but me would understand!! I love it when they start using actual words — amazing what they can say at such a tiny age! 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday x

    Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk