What Should I Be Teaching My One Year Old?

Sounds like you are doing a great job. He is a sponge right now so he will want to know what everything is called. Point out things that you see in the sky on the ground all around the house. Teach him colors, shapes, animals, foods, feelings.

Everything you do he will be watching and storing the info in his little brain and when you least expect it poof, he will surprise you.

I assume he is walking? If not he will very soon. Then you can teach him to climb on small slides, how to pull or push toys while walking. Teach him to pick up and put down toys (action words). Give him directions. "Please go to your room and bring me a book". You will be amazed. Build up to multiple directions. "Please go to your room and bring me your Winnie the pooh book and your tennis shoes." When he follows your directions, always tell him "thank you".

Read, read , read to him. Show him the pictures, ask him questions, ask him his opinion. Take him to parks and to events. Play all types of music in your house and in the car. Talk, talk ,talk. His vocabulary is endless at this age. Teach him to share. Teach him to put toys away, teach him to pour (first in the bathtub), everything is a teaching moment, but it is the stuff we all take for granted. Enjoy him and take a ton of photos and videos. You can never have enough.

You are doing a fabulous job! Keep up what you are doing.
I am a huge fan of sign language. Children will learn the words with the sign language, so you don't have to choose. Teach him both at the ame time. I wouldn't worry about which words to teach. Teach them all. Just talk to him and sign with him as much as you can. This is what we have done with our daughter (3yrs). Now she will teach it to other children and has a real love of language, every language. Her latest love is Spanish and has even learned some French.
I believe that sign language is a "gateway" language that opens a child's eyes up to recognize that people comunicate in many different ways.

As long as you speaking to him and reading to him, he will pick up on words. I don't think there are any certain words that you need to stress more than others. For example, when you are cooking dinner, just be sure to say what you are doing. "I'm cooking dinner so we can get ready to eat. Are you hungry?" Just including him in conversation even though he is not responding right now is going to teach him the words as well as the rules of having a conversation. (taking tuns listening and speaking) If he is looking at something, describe what it is: size, shape, color, texture. If he is hearing conversation, he will learn what he needs to.

You're on the right track, and he seems to be doing well. Just keep doing what you're doing. I never liked the sign language idea; there's no incentive to speak. Every utterance exercises those cords and prepares them for speech. It also gets him used to the idea of his own voice. Sign language can (not necessarily will) inhibit that. I know that each child is different, but I've actually seen some children refuse to use their voices because they enjoyed using their hands.

He's on a good roll--don't rush him. Just talk, talk, talk to him, and read, read, read...even if it's your magazine or you're just vocalizing your activities (washing hands, walking to the lamp, etc.).

I would teach her both sign language and speaking at the same time. While you do each sign say it out loud. And eventually your child will do both. This worked very well with my daughter at that age. Basically what you're looking for is communication and they'll learn to sign before they learn their words. Good luck I know you'll do well.

I actually started sign language with my son when he was 6 months old. I started real slow and worked up. He is 13 m/o and knows milk, eat, drink, bye-bye, thank you, up, more and we're working on a few more. What I did was when we were doing something I would sign it. Like before he got off the bottle I would sign milk to him and then when he learned it he would sign to me that he wanted his bottle. It's really rewarding when your hard work pays off!! So anytime you're doing anything with him just sign it. It's better to be doing the thing your signing rather than just teaching out of the blue. That way they have site to the word. Also if your not interested in sign there are other things you can do. Flash cards work great also. Go to the wesite YOUR BABY CAN READ. You might like that. Good luck!

My advice would be to just continue what you are doing. I speak to my child all the time. I explain to him what I am doing when he is watching me..they are sponges. I do something like..mommy is putting the milk in the refrigerator or mommy is putting socks on her feet, can (name) put socks on his feet?, ect... He started learning more words are is talking in complete sentences. Hope this help!!

C. B.
Arbonne International
Independent Consultant
www.MoreTime4MyKids.com
www.corissabell.myarbonne.com