Teach Your Twelve Month Old Baby Sign Language
12 months! Your baby is one entire year old! While you’re wondering where the time has gone, you are also soaking up all of the fun that this age brings. Your baby is officially on the move (and there is no stopping them), motivated to learn about the world around them, letting their personality shine bright, and not quiet about their likes and dislikes.
Many parents may have the motivation to use sign language with their 12 month old baby (technically a toddler, I know, but still a baby at the same time) because they are starting to see frustrations continue to rise surrounding communication. Your 1 year old has a lot to communicate, but doesn’t have the words yet, although their first words may be starting to develop. However, they may be asking themselves if they are too late to use sign language, if sign language will benefit their 1 year old, and what ASL signs are best to use with this age. It’s a lot to figure out!
Here’s the good news: teaching your 12 month old baby sign language is extremely possible and beneficial! Follow these steps and recommended resources:
If you don’t already, please follow me on Instagram for more about how sign language can be a game charger for your baby / toddler’s early communication skills.
Benefits to using sign language with your 12 month old:
This age is a great time to start using sign language because like I mentioned above, they are motivated and on the move. You will notice them pointing to things they need and want, and even developing their own gestures to try and describe what they’re talking about. This is is a huge benefit, because it’s your first clue about what ASL signs to use with your 1 year old (keep scrolling for more on that).
This stage has so many wonderful language opportunities, which is a huge benefit when it comes to using sign language. Here’s some of these opportunities:
Another benefit listed in that graphic is although your 12 month old baby may have their first word (it may be coming soon, or they may have a handful by now) but there is still a large gap between what they can say and what they want to communicate. While many parents may believe sign language is not needed once their child begins to talk, that is not the case at all! That gap is the source to many of their frustrations, but also high motivation to communicate about those things. As a result, it is possible for your 1 year old to learn new ASL signs within a few weeks, or up to one month! They are starting to be able to learn more quickly, which will lessen frustrations faster as well.
Want to use sign language with your little one?
Get Started Now with 10 functional ASL signs to start using with your baby or toddler right away. Learn 3 tips to ensure you are using signs correctly and with realistic expectations. Whether you have already started signing, or just warming up to the idea, this free guide will take you one step closer to your goal!
Look Who’s Signing Now is my signature four part course that teaches you the exact blueprint I use to teach my own children sign language. Beginning with the foundation of why and when to use baby sign language, how to implement it, and what signs to use. With this self-study e-course, you will have the confidence to sign with your baby and boost their early communication while reducing frustrations, tantrums, and time wasted playing the guessing game.
Check out my online resources for parents! Browse my current offerings.
Sign language to use with your one year old:
Reflect on why you are wanting to use sign language with your 12 month old. More than likely, it’s to reduce frustrations, know what they want more easily, and/or foster early communication. Because of this, we want to use sign language for functional vocabulary (check out this blog post for more on this topic).
Like I’ve mentioned above, your one year old is also wanting to communicate about things they want, and preferences as well. Their favorite toys, foods, and activities are highly interesting and motivating to them. Using sign language for these, paired with functional vocabulary, will also be of great benefit to them.
Keep in mind, whenever your baby learns a new sign and uses sign language, they more than likely won’t look like yours. Here’s what I mean:
When to use sign language with your twelve month old:
As your little one transitions from baby to toddler (during the “taby” stage as I like to call it), it truly is best to use sign language throughout your day!
Your baby’s routines are more than likely well oiled machines by now. Using sign language during routines, like the baby graphic emphasizes, gives them access to language often and consistently. Adding sign language into your toddler’s play times, like the toddler graphic demonstrates, gives them access to that language that motivates them as well as their most loved interests.
As I described in this previous blog post, toddlers learn best through play. Because of that, use sign language during your 12 month old’s play.
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While supervising or playing with your toddler:
👧🏼allow for open-ended play, and practice the language skills they have
👦🏽extend functional signs used in daily routines into your activity for continued exposure, modeling, and repetition
👧🏻include some high-interest signs to stay a few steps ahead of their spoken language skills
👦🏾expand their language skills using ASL signs
👧🏿respond to their frustrations along the way (more on this in the coming weeks)
👦🏼and of course... HAVE FUN!!
These can be seated activities, sensory play, open ended activities, paired with books, and so much more!
Happiest birthday to your 12 month old! Have so much fun together learning more signs to increase clear communication and decrease the frustrations. You’ll be amazed at what is possible!
