Using Signs as an Alternative Form of Communication:
We often hear from parents how frustrated their child is because they cannot verbally talk. Talking is the main goal, but how do we alleviate that frustration now? The use of signs has proven through research and clinical application to be a short term alternative to alleviate frustration.
Early in our kids lives we rely on social gestures for communication, such as raising their arms up to let us know they want up, waving hello or goodbye, or pointing to indicate a want. Gestures such as these and early signs can be learned quickly and provide a great opportunity to understand how communication works. For example, I signed apple and then my mom would give me an apple. When kids understand that communication gets results this can make a huge difference in their motivation to communicate in a variety of forms with those around them.
The first step to learning a language is also learning the skill of imitation. The use of signs can increase the skill as we use both a visual and verbal reinforcement. The ability to exaggerate or slow down the motion of a sign can also help hold the information in the child's brain for long term retention to occur.
The use of these early gestures and signs are in no way meant to become the child's primary form of communication. We are simply trying to provide a way for the child to express his or her most basic wants and needs and allow the child to see the power of communicating.
Start with just a few signs (two or three) to help your child figure out the mysteries of communication. Appropriate early signs like "more" "please" "eat" "drink" and "all done" are good to choose from to give your child many opportunities for success from the beginning. Once your child demonstrates an understanding of communication by signing you can choose signs that would solve some of the daily situations that cause you the most frustration. Families have shared that indicating if they want food or a drink or a specific toy helped them the most.
Always pair the sign with the verbal word and it is okay to help your child perform the sign while you are teaching new signs. You want to respond as soon as your child attempts (or you help him attempt) to make the sign.
Dealing with Common Motor Delays: Weight Bearing and Weight Shifting:
Some babies are sensitive to weight bearing or movement. They may not put weight through their feet in standing, tolerate kneeling, or tolerate all fours. They may not like rolling (even though you may have seen them do it once or twice). They may sit well but not get into or out of sitting. Often parents report those babies have always hated tummy time and that they get carried frequently throughout the day. Generally they have very pleasant, easy-going personalities and are not delayed in any other areas of development. If this sounds like your child, try these tips below to encourage weight bearing and weight shifting.
Weight Bearing: You have sensors in your joints that give feedback with pressure (standing, kneeling, pushing through hands) and touch receptors that give feedback to touch. Some kids do not like these sensations and will cry or avoid those positions. But with simple desensitizing exercises you can work through this and prepare your child for crawling or walking.
Feet: Sit the baby on your lap with legs at a 90 degree angle. Push down through his legs so you feel weight going on to his feet. If there is a toy in front of you for your baby to reach for he will shift more weight onto his feet. Desensitize the feet to touch by rubbing his feet with a firm pressure or with a textured surface like a washcloth.
Knees: Kneel at a couch cushion or bottom step. Be sure he keeps his knees in (not frogged out). You may kneel behind him with your legs keeping his knees from splaying.
Hands: Encourage pushing through a straight arm position over your leg. Notice if your child avoids touching textures when finger feeding or playing and work on those textures.
Weight Shifting: Weight shifting occurs when you move your body out of the midline position. This includes rolling, and getting out of and into sitting. Talk to your baby about what you are doing or sing when you try these motions, as they are new and may be a little scary at first.
Rolling Tummy to Back: Make sure his arms are tucked in under the body. Use a toy to encourage head turning and the body should follow. You may want to try this on a bed first.
Rolling Back to Tummy: Start with hands and feet tucked in and roll your baby side to side. From laying on his back, encourage reaching across the body or put one leg across the body to start the rolling motion and then help him get onto his tummy.
Getting Out of Sitting: Hold your baby's arms and steer them down to the ground. He will end up on his tummy, then help adjust the legs, if needed. You can also do this over your leg.
Getting Into Sitting: Roll your baby to a side-lying position. The ideal starting point is with your baby side-lying with his legs straight out (like a sitting position). This does not work well if your baby is trying to arch or roll back, so if this happens you may need to use one hand to help sit his trunk up. Try and aim his bottom to the ground giving lots of downward pressure to the hip that's up. This gives him a point of stabilization so he can push with his hands and use his trunk muscles to sit up.
This information is adapted from articles in the Kids on the Move Fall/Winter 2012 Newsletter
