If you want it to be wordless...well, just close your eyes when you get to the words, mkay?
Besides.
I have a question.
We have a problem.
More specifically, we have a screaming-that-makes-your-ears-bleed problem.
Mia has a fairly limited spoken vocabulary. She says yes, no, kitty, mom, daddy, bye and done. There's more that she understands, but can't say, like, kisses, hugs, Mia and bath. In the last two weeks, she's really started to try and articulate her wants, but she doesn't yet have the vocabulary to do so. Instead, she's resorted to screams.
And y'all...they. are. horrible.
She doesn't get positive attention for this behavior. She is told "no" when she does it. And yet the problem has continued to get worse.
My next thought is that she's not doing it for attention, as much as she's trying to "talk" and getting frustrated? My theory could be a total bust, but I need to try something.
Phew. Still with me through all that? Kevin says when I tell a story, you get a "5 for 1" deal.
I don't know what he's talking about.
Anyway.
Have any of you tried sign language and had success? Maybe if I can give her a tool to "speak" it'll help with the screaming? Please God, let it help with the screaming. I started to look around on Google, but, um, there's a TON of stuff out there. How did you do it? I'm assuming you teach the words in context? Did it help with speech/vocabulary development? Any other suggestions?
Thanks for chiming in!
And just for good measure...
Flowers from my front yard. Aren't they pretty?
5 comments:
Yes!!! We taught Ladybug sign language and we still use it even though she is very verbal. Now, it's a fun game to play and the foundation of ASL as a second language.
But back to your question - yes, when a little one can sign, their frustration levels are way less because they know they are being understood. Start with 6 or so signs that you'll use in every day life. More, milk, eat, change (for change diaper). We also started with a few "motivating" signs, things that she loved. Duckie, for one, because she LOVED her duckies!
There are online ASL dictionaries that show you how to do the signs. I have a few things about baby signs posted on my blog under that category. Let me know if I can be of any help to you!
The only signs we ever got to with our four kids were 'more' and 'all done'. There is an age where they won't understand how not to scream.
Just keep putting your finger to your lips, saying shhh, and then talking in a whisper. Every.single.time.
Then the age will come when YOU KNOW they understand not to scream and do it anyway. That's a whole new problem.
BTW - I love your sense of humor when talking/telling stories. Even on Twitter it comes through.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I didnt do sign language but my lil guy went through the same thing and sometimes still does. He is now 21 months old so he can communicate pretty well but everyonce in awhile he will scream instead of telling me. I really think it is a phase that all children go through bc they are at the age where they are between wanting to say it and not actually being able to say it. Good luck with the sign language.
Maggie isn't screaming but she has started this whiny close-lipped "MMMMMMM!" when she's trying to communicate. It is wearing but man, so glad they aren't screams.
We are starting sign language because I do think if she could tell us what she needs/wants, the frustration levels would go away. Just start with the basics (milk, more, etc). This link will take you some of the basics signs:
http://www.parents.com/baby/development/sign-language/sign-language-animations-11-words-about-everyday-items/?ordersrc=google4signlanguage_slide2&cobrandId=ww5&s_kwcid=TC|6870|teaching%20babies%20sign%20language||S||3873909838
And am I way off, or is today Miss Mia's birthday? Happy 1st Mia and Mommy :)
Having no kids myself, I can only relate ones I have lived with. My friend's 19month old did severe screaming/shrieking and we learned he had diminished hearing due to fluid on the ears. Once the tubes were placed he lowered the pitch and volume (still a bit of a loud child though). That said, I think all kids go through the yelling/screaming phase and you are doing the best thing for it by reminding her of expectations.
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