Teach Your Little One Apple in Sign Language!
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September and the fall sparks apple picking season! Regardless if you go picking apples or not, apple is a great ASL sign to teach your child. Not only will it be used many times while apple picking, but it’s also great to use sign language when eating apples, reading books with apples, and during play. Many early childhood school programs, such as daycares, Mother’s Day Outs, and preschools, does an apple unit in September, and sign language will ensure your young child continues to thrive, learn, and grow!
Use these sign language ideas for apples with your young child:
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 multi-sensory experiences & language
When it's activity time in our house, I make sure I'm getting the best bang for my buck:
💥screen free entertainment
💥learning & experiences
💥chance to get something knocked out on my to-do list (if possible, but this isn’t always the case)
Multi-sensory learning is the best bang for your buck for all those reasons plus these benefits:
uses the whole brain
for all learning styles
promotes dual coding
new multisensory associations are formed
new connections made (neural plasticity)
increases concentration & focus
develops critical thinking
promotes relaxation
improves communication & sharing
BEST PART? Sign language is multi-sensory!!
Want to use sign language with your little one?
Sign Through the Seasons: Fall is an all-inclusive activity workshop that equips you to implement meaningful activities, targeted signed vocabulary, and intentional learning for your baby, toddler, or preschooler during the fall months (including apples)! Learn more about this seasonal e-course here.
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.
ASL for Apple
APPLE: can be used to request an apple to eat, finding it in a book, during pretend play, or any of the activities below!
TREE: perfect to use while at the apple orchard picking apples
PIE: pull up your kitchen helper or chair and make an apple pie with your little one (or buy one from the store and enjoy it together!)
Apple book recommendations for babies, toddlers, & preschoolers
Reading books will help extend your child’s learning and experiences. Incorporate the signs you know as you read together.
Pat the Bunny: At the Apple Orchard is such a cute twist on the original classic. Your 0-2 year old will love the animal characters and simple story line while using sign language.
Apple Farmer Annie is available in both board book or paperback. This is a fantastic book for the 1+ year olds, discussing all things from apple picking, to counting, sorting, and more.
Apple Countdown is a great book for the preschoolers. There are not only many opportunities to use sign language, but also great numeracy practice (the book counts down from 20 to 1) as well as rhyming.
Apple Activity Ideas for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
These ASL signs can also be used during fun activities related to apples. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers come a long way in their fine motor development each and every day. If you aren't already, I encourage you to find ways to incorporate these skills and pair it with meaningful language to encourage communication. For older babies and toddlers, this tearing paper activity looks fun! For the toddlers, I loved this apple picking activity (and the numbers can be optional). And for the older toddlers or preschoolers, this lacing activity is a great challenge!
Apple stamping is a fun activity for many ages, but there are so many more art activities for our little ones! This blogger has a ton of ideas for the older toddler and preschool ages. Keeping paint contained in a bag for the younger ones is always a great idea (scroll down to “apple paint in a bag”).
Making homemade applesauce is a lot of fun and super easy! This crockpot applesauce recipe is the one I used when I was a classroom teacher. We made it in the morning as a class, and by snack time in the afternoon - my Deaf students were ready to dive in after smelling it cook all day!
I can’t wait for you to dive in to some of these with your little one!
