A Basic Guide to Toddler Sign Language

Is your toddler throwing a tantrum, screaming at the top of their lungs, and you are still trying to figure out whether they are hungry, tired, or feeling uncomfortable? The possibilities are endless and it has you wondering why they can’t just express their emotions and needs calmly? 

Well, imagine when you are seeking help but the person you seek for assistance does not do what you said or misunderstood your idea, do you feel frustrated in times like this? Same goes for your little ones.

Most toddlers between the ages of 1–3 years old have started to utter a few words or are trying their very best to learn to communicate verbally. Because your little one is still in the phase of learning a language, parents may struggle to understand what they’re trying to say due to the comprehension gap!

Your toddler will eventually develop their language and speech fluency as they grow, but this is something that parents cannot force. Until then, sign language should come in handy to help parents and toddlers to have pleasant interactions with fewer meltdowns. 

It’s never too early or too late to start teaching your toddler to learn sign language. 

Toddler sign language is known as a collection of simple hand gestures that helps a toddler to communicate and it is an action to “fill in the gap” when they have trouble expressing themselves through words without crying or whining. By incorporating sign language into your toddler’s fledgling attempts to talk, it allows them to join in a conversation more smoothly, reach out to others more easily, and best of all, forge stronger bonds of affection and satisfaction with parents that last a lifetime.

This basic toddler sign language could be life-changing in terms of helping your toddler with their daily communication. Here’s how to sign them.

Life-changing Signs for Daily Use 

Hungry – Curl fingers to make C Shape, moving from neck to stomach. 

Milk – Open and close your fist like you’re milking a cow. 

Eat – Pinch the tips of all fingers together and bring them up to your mouth.

More – Pinch all fingertips of both hands together, then tap all fingers together a few times.

All Done – Fingers up with palms facing in and turn to face out.

Sleep/ Bed – Palms together and move next to ears, supporting a tilted head. 

Do keep in mind that these signs are just suggestions. The goal is not to teach your child a set of specific signs. Rather, it is a tool to enrich the relationship between parents and toddlers. Feel free to modify these signs so that they work for your family. 

A quick guide in teaching toddler sign language 

If you’d like to start teaching sign language to your toddler, here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Repetition is key

Emphasise a sign by repeating it several times anytime, anywhere. The more your toddler sees the sign, the easier it is for them to pick up. Use these signs frequently, build them into your toddler’s daily routine. 

• Sign and speak the word simultaneously 

Toddlers observe what they have seen and heard. It’s important to put them in context first to make sure they can relate and understand the meaning of doing those signs. 

• Sign consistently 

To avoid confusion, it’s crucial to get all family members on board, whereby everyone is doing the same words with the same signs.

• Give lots of encouragement 

Your little one will love hearing praise from you and they respond well to words of encouragement. Affirmation from parents goes a long way towards making learning fun for a toddler!

Last Note

In terms of speech fluency development, your toddler will get there eventually. Until then, these helpful gestures can be used as a tool to help your child clarify messages and for parents to better understand their children’s needs and emotions, leading to fewer meltdowns and lesser frustration.