The key to teaching your baby/toddler to sign is consistency and repetition. So that every time you say the word of a sign you want to teach, you do the sign, and that you say/sign that word many times throughout the day. Many times, you can simply incorporate the signs into your daily routines; however, we always want to teach the parents/caregivers in our classes more ways to incorporate signing. Games are a great way to teach your child and have fun doing it; here are some fun signing games to get you started!
What happened to the light? Help baby turn the light switch on/off. Each time the light turns on, sign light. You could also add “all gone/done” when the light turns off.
Where’s the shoe? Show the baby a shoe or other object, and say/sign the word. Then cover it with a blanket and ask “where’s the shoe?” . Then uncover the shoe, and say and sign, “There’s the shoe.” You can also use concept cards for this game.
Pull a Sign! Need a bag and a set of concept cards. Help your baby pull out a card and then say/sign the word on the card. Repeat. You can also use puzzle pieces, small stuffed animals, or other small objects for this game. Another variation is to put these items into a ball pit for your child to pull out.
Signing Scavenger Hunt: For mobile babies, hide concept cards around an area. Have your child search for the cards one at a time. As he finds each card, go to him and sign what is on the card. Continue until all of the cards are found. If your child is already signing, you can have him sign what is on the cards. You can also use puzzle pieces, small stuffed animals, or other small objects for this game.
Red Light/Green Light: For mobile babies, this game is a great way to practice stop and go. Say/sign “go” and have your child walk towards you, and then say/sign “stop” and have her stop walking. Continue until she reaches you. We sometimes play this game during the More Sign, Say and Play® Class,and it is a big hit with many of the walking toddlers. A variation for signing toddlers is having him signing “go” to you as you walk backwards and then signing “stop” to you. If your child is not mobile, you can simply carry her, and make the sign “go” and then “stop” as you walk and stop several times. For older toddlers, you can also add the sign for “wait”.
For a book or song that is a favorite with an older toddler, you can play the “What comes next?” game with signs. For example, if you are reading a favorite book about animals, you can ask him to sign what animal comes next in the story. Or, you can say/sign the names of animals that may be next in the book, and ask her to guess which one it is.
Tunnel Hunt: Set up a tunnel and put concept cards throughout the tunnel. Then have your child crawl into the tunnel, pick out a card and then crawl back to you with the card in hand. Have your child make the sign on the card, or you can say/sign the word to her.
Parachute Shake: Sit with your child and hold a small parachute or blanket and shake it. Then say/sign “stop”, and stop shaking. Then say/sign “go” and start again. Repeat. This game can also be used in conjunction with a song that has breaks in it. Then you can also add the sign “listen” to see when the music (and the shaking) will start again.
Beebo™ Says: For an older toddler, you can play a game of Beebo™ Says, instead of Simon Says. You would say “BeeBo™ says sign ‘more’” and then say/sign “more” and try to elicit your child to sign “more”. Repeat with different signs.
Songs are a great way to incorporate signing into your daily activities as well. You can even change the words around to make up your own songs and focus on the signs you want to teach your baby. For example, there is a song, “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear”. You can change the words to Beebo™ Bear, Beebo™ Bear, touch the floor, Beebo™ Bear, Beebo™ Bear, let’ssign more.”
Stop for Safety: You could make STOP lines for safety. Go to the line with your baby and then say/sign “stop”. Children love the emphasis of “stop”.
Thanks to fellow instructors, Nikki D. Suzanne H., Allison B. for their ideas of simple signing games!
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