Four Reasons To Use Sign Language For Highly-Functional Vocabulary
As the parent, it can be a lot of fun to learn lots of ASL vocabulary, and then turn around to teach it to your young child. Words like “dinosaur” because of their lovey, “princess” because of a favorite character, and “mommy” or “daddy” because your heart will melt a thousand times over. But I encourage you to actually ask yourself this question instead: WHY are you using sign language with your baby?
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Why use baby sign language for functional vocabulary?
It is important to use sign language for highly functional vocabulary because:
These words are used across many contexts. Whether it is during a meal, reading a book, at home, on an adventure, or at a friends house - these words can be repetitively used. When it’s used over and over again, that is giving your child more and more exposure to the word, sign, and it’s meaning.
These words have many language functions. They allow us to request (ask), protest (no or don’t like/want it), direct (go, get, need) and so much more. Even with only 1-2 words, these functions carry a lot of meaning for our little ones.
Your child is able to communicate his/her basic needs and wants. Giving them a sign to use, rather than a grunt/cry/point, allows us to meet their need faster because it is more clear and understood. When these basic needs and wants are met first, that is when we see a decrease in frustration in the child, as well as the parent or caregiver.
These are some of the earliest words to develop. They are used often, serve many functions, and get their needs met!
Want to use sign language with your little one?
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What are some examples of functional language?
While content (or academic) language is also important and serves a huge purpose, starting with functional vocabulary is important for our early communicators.
These content/academic vocabulary consists of categories such as colors, animals, places, shapes, numbers, etc. Let’s take a look at these examples of functional vocabulary:
🤟 HELP can be used to request help doing a puzzle, reaching for a toy, or getting unstuck
🤟MORE can be used to request more food, tickles, or books
🤟ALL DONE can be used to communicate things are completed such as a nap, meal, or book
🤟GO can be used to direct going up the stairs, outside, going down the slide, or a toy car zooming away
🤟 EAT can be used to request a meal or snack, communicate hunger, or play with pretend food
What’s a real life example?
While we rarely get snow where I am in Texas, January can be snowy for many others.
Try these on your next snow day:
HELP: getting dressed, walking in snow, forming snowball
GO: request to go outside (or inside to warm up), go farther away to throw a snowball
MORE: building a bigger snowman, form another snow angel, play longer
ALL DONE: finished with snow activity, shed some layers, ready to come inside
How do you use sign language during play time?
Next time you and your little one are playing with one of these toys, give these ideas a try! I also shared about them in this reel!
🧱BLOCKS: sign MORE before rebuilding, HELP to give assistance, OH NO as it falls down, and UP as it builds higher and higher
🚗TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES: sign GO & STOP as they zoom, CAR & AIRPLANE to select which toy to use
🐠TUMMY TIME MAT: sign MORE as your baby feels the waves, ALL DONE when they've reached their limit, FISH & CRAB as they glide past
🧩PUZZLES: sign HELP for assistance, FIND when searching for the pieces, COW & HORSE when selecting the pieces
But wait - there’s more!
I teamed up with Caley @learnwithchatterboxes about using functional 😡 fighting words. Check out the post we did together here.
I also joined forces with Deana @nextsmallstep about pairing sign language with motor skills. See the reel we collaborated together here!
