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Home › Articles › Play Time › Learning While Laughing

Learning While Laughing

Understand the Value of Play

By Kelly Burgess

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"All children start signing before they start speaking," says Rachel Coleman, founder of Signing Time. "They wave bye-bye; they point to something, and they make a variety of meaningful gestures. Parents get excited by this because we know that the word for that gesture is going to come next."

Coleman knows this from personal experiences. When her daughter, Leah, was 14 months old she discovered that Leah was deaf. She immediately began learning American Sign Language and teaching it to Leah. It quickly became apparent to Coleman that Leah could communicate more effectively, and with a greater range of comprehension, than a speaking child of the same age.

Signing, Coleman says, helps children develop pre-verbal and pre-literacy skills early because a child's cognitive function develops before the motor skills necessary for speech. Thus, they may understand that they want a drink, but not be able to say it. Signing gives them that tool. Beyond that, it helps them make the connection between communicating a thought and achieving an effect.

As for pre-literacy, learning to sign the alphabet helps toddlers make sense of what may otherwise be 26 seemingly random letters. It also helps them to understand the concept of proper ordering and spelling.

It's easy to make signing a fun part of play, and it can be another tool in enriching the time you spend with your child while enriching his or her mind. Just remember, play is all about fun, and there shouldn't be a focus on learning. Model good behavior, and let the child lead the way. In other words, don't turn a tea party into Thanksgiving dinner, Kostelc says. Relax and let out your inner child. Who knows what you'll learn?

Playtime Tips for Parents
  • Give your child a variety of materials for coloring. Kostelc prefers crayons and chalk more often and pens and markers less often, as they make coloring too easy. Use a lot of paper textures, from smooth photo paper to corrugated cardboard or even sandpaper. And don't forget the fun of drawing on the sidewalk with chalk.
  • Tired of junk mail? Let your toddler tear it up for you. This helps them develop fine motor skills. Or cut the paper into one-inch strips and allow your toddler to snip though them with a pair of safety scissors. They don't yet have the ability or patience to "cut something out," but this activity will help them get the idea.
  • Give them toys that allow them to pretend play.
  • Incorporate a few simple signs into everyday life, such as milk, more, sleep and eat. Merely repeat the sign each time the item or concept is presented.


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