Hi all, bear with me -- I have three questions:
1) My husband and I have been signing "milk", "more" and "all done" for over 3 months now and our 1 year old will imitate it when we sign it but he doesn't seem to understand what it actually means. For example, when I'm feeding him, I'll sign "more" and he'll repeat it and then I'll sign "all done" and he'll repeat it but then he eats more if I offer the food which means he wasn't actually all done to begin with! How long did it take your kids to sign?
2) I'm getting worried b/c he also doesn't say any words. He'll babble dadaddad and the like but he doesn't know what it means. He'll wave byebye and clap his hands when we tell him to so it seems he understands but thats the extent of it. He doesn't point to things if I say "ball". Is this normal?
3) If I call his name, sometimes he'll look up but most of the time he ignores me. Is this normal??
Again, he's 1 years old. Thanks mamas!!
Totally normal. He obviously hears and understands since he will clap or wave when you say to, but he's a busy guy and he's got other stuff on his mind. Just keep talking to him a working with him and he'll start gibbering away soon. Then you're going to be back on here looking for advice on how to shut him up! lol!
Oh,yes. This sounds normal. Trust me.they learn to ignore you at a very young age. They also pick up things at their own pace, and speech in boys takes a little longer than girls(in most cases). For the longest time, my son would say "all done" (as well as he could) then eat more right away. They imitate before they fully understand things definitely. Then one day, they finally put 2 & 2 together & your like, " yes, they actually are getting this. Another good sign to teach them(that my son will still do today at almost 2 1/2) is "please". I'm not really sure what the sign for "thank you"is, but my boy now knows to say "please" before to ask nicely, and "thank you" after.i can't really remember how long it took for him to pick up what i was teaching him. Every kid is unique,too. Just be consistent & expose them to all sorts of education. Kids are sponges & will amaze you. They pick up things that you wouldn't even think about, so, limit exposure to things and language that you would rather them not pick up on.
1) I taught my kids signing from 6 months old. It takes time but they got it. Then you have to wait until the child can put it to use.... appropriately. And that takes time too.
2) 'Babbling' keep in mind, is a precursor...to actual 'talking.' Even making sounds with their mouth or imitating sounds/animals/cars etc., and making sing-song singing, is all a precursor, to talking.
Boys, often develop talking later. It being gender based.
If he is not yet "pointing" to things, then ask your Pediatrician. But there is a range of ages, in which they develop these things. Each kid varies.... but it can still be within a 'normal' range. Instead of saying "ball." Say "Where is the ball?" and have the ball nearby. But again, he is only 1 year old.
3) Some kids, don't respond to their name yet. Nor point to themselves yet, if asked "Who is Johnny?" for example. So, again, ask your Pediatrician about your concerns.
Each kid varies. My kids at that age did respond to their names.
Your son is 1 year old. A good book is: "What To Expect The First Year" or, 'What To Expect- the Toddler Years." It is good book, a classic, and will explain a lot. You can find it anywhere or online.
all the best,
Susan
I had some of the same concerns. My daughter is 14 months old and we started signing when she was about 8 months. About 6 weeks ago, she started signing more, by clapping. She will clap when she wants more of something, but she also does it when she wants her cup from the counter, or sees one of the other kids eating something she wants. It's not necessarily "more" of anything, just something she wants. She just started signing milk, ick (our own sign), owie and fuzzy (the sign for her blankie). She wasn't saying much at all on a regular basis except for uh-oh. Then, it was like someone turned on a switch. She's saying a lot of words that are undeniably a word. She may not say it when we ask her to, but they are there. I wouldn't be concerned at this age - all kids develop differently and it sounds like he understands just fine. Also, my daughter will ignore me when I call her name, too. Other times, she'll look if I'm persistant enough. Keep signing, he may have a "switch" too!! LOL! If you are concerned about his hearing, ask your pediatrician at your next appt.
I think he's just fine.
At a year old, these things are just "tricks" to him. He'll do them when he feels like it and he won't when he doesn't. He's not attaching any of the meaning to these things that you do just yet. He'll get the hang of it.
Like Dyreka said, there will come a day you'll wish he had an "off" button.
Just enjoy him!
Best wishes!
