She has been encouraging us to stop worrying about Matthew
“talking” and start focusing on developing communication instead. We are full
bore into sign language around our house, and it’s working! Matthew has a huge
vocabulary of signs that he uses regularly to communicate.
Here’s a list: More, All Done, Milk, Water, Yogurt, Open,
Close, Swing, Slide, Tricycle, T.V., Eat, Car, Truck, Fire Truck, Horse, Cow,
Dog, Boat, Ball, Book, Outside, Light, Tree, No, Yes, Diaper, Sorry, Help,
Please, Thank You, Music, Hurts, Up and Down.
Just today, he surprised me with two new things: First of
all he signed diaper and pointed at his bottom, telling me he wanted his diaper
changed (it was poopy!). His awareness of his body is a new milestone and very
exciting—I was just telling Aaron the other day that I was thinking it might be
time to start early potty training.
He also is starting to take my hands and move them into
signs as an additional way t communicate—like when he asks for “cars” on “T.V.”
and I say “no” . . . and then he grabs my hands and tries again! Just like a
kid, asking over and over again.
We are also enjoying Matthew’s newly acquired receptive
language. About a week ago when we were at a friend’s house, I asked him to go
inside and get his backpack and bring it to me. He went in the house and
reappeared a few seconds later with his backpack in tow. We continue to use
words at every opportunity with Matthew, especially during routines to
establish patterns.
Matthew is also learning to sign the alphabet—there are a
few letters he knows on his own, and he can sign all 26 letters with Aaron or
me when we do it together. I feel like sign language is going to open up a
world of communication for him.
Anyhow—at our house right now we are grateful for sign
language—for the ways it opens doors for Matthew and all that he can learn
because of it, even though he’s not talking with spoken words.
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