|
Hoping that you can teach your toddler some basic manners like
using Please and Thank You? Hoping
to raise a child that shares toys at play dates? Well, signing may just help you achieve
your goals.
When children are taught to sign words like “please,” “thank you,”
and “share,” it is easier for them to internalize the concept that if they use
these words, they get what they want. Manners are an abstract concept for little
minds that are focused on one goal: getting what they want. By teaching children that when they
something, they need to sign “please,” it later translates in to saying please
once they begin to speak.
Lindy
Bartell, president of Smarty Parents, explains that it is never to soon or too
late to start teaching manners. (click here for more information.
Note: Smarty
Parents offers manners-minded books, music and products from characters Perry
& Penny. Look for these products in your local store or at www.perryandpenny.com
These signs
can be combined to help children express what they want and need such as “More
Eat Please” when they want more food.
You can also require that
your child signs “please” before being given a cookie or before you read books
together. At first, your requirement is going to seem strange to your child, but
if you are consistent, saying and signing please will become a habit.
A personal
story: My son Alex learned to sign
“please” at 12 months. When he
began to speak, he would still sign and say please when he really wanted
something. Signing “please” worked
like an exclamation to underscore when he really wanted something. Somehow, he understood that signing AND
saying had more of an impact. See
if your child has the same experience.
Here are a
few basic signs to start with to teach children manners:
| Eat (Set 1: First
Words) |
More (Set 1: First
Words) |
 |
 |
| All Done (Set 1: First
Words) |
Please (Set 4: Around the
House) |
 |
 |
| Thank You (Set 4: Around the
House) |
Share (Set 4: Around the
House) |
 |
 |
|
Shopping Cart »
