sign: BALL, new word / new sign

So as mentioned before, we're going through major language explosion in our home with our 16 month old. Another new word is BALL. I was thinking of creating a list because I don't want to miss a moment of all these great times, each day with these new words. She recognizes them any time, any place. While we're walking she sees a BALL, she signs/says BALL?! I say 'yes yes BALL'. It's great!


I haven't been blogging as much making sure I spend this time with her realizing that each day and new experience truly needs to be cherrished. I'm off more in the summer than fall/winter/spring so I'm spending that time with Ms Little Fingers and her BALLS. We're hoping to even hit the beach for the first time soon. That would surely have tons of signs to come with that trip!

just DANCE!

My daughter is in love with DANCING. It's not new but it's definitely growing in interest. She's only 16 months and my sister swears she's going to DANCE class some day. We shall see. So DANCE, just DANCE! Maybe I'll have to get a video together of her 'raising the roof' and DANCING around. Actually these hands 

... look like her DANCING!

move those DANCING legs (upside 'V')

sign: CONGRATS for What's the Sign Wednesday

We had a lot of requests for What's the Sign Wednesday - so many we might do some during the week! Thank you Thank you! Keep them coming in.

Today - CONGRATULATIONS or CONGRATS. It's an easy one. You might already do it and not realize!

sign: HELP, very appropriate and it's a good age (16 mo)

 HELP ... Another one of our newest words / signs. Like other new words learned, it sometimes comes out like UP (meaning it's approximated). She understands the sign but isn't signing it back yet like her other word/sign combos (e.g. APPLE, BANANA, MORE, CRACKER, etc.) but she surely will say HELP. If she says UP and I say "HELP?" she'll say "YEA YEA".  


It's so great to see she's understanding the concept of help as she hands me something she truly needs help with. Just like all of the other teaching moments I provide the sign with the spoken word.


HELP is a tricky concept and I'm not sure if she was ready for much sooner than now (around 16 months). This abstract concept was something I had to wait until she was reaching for me to HELP and until she was looking at me for HELP. I began modeling the concept a couple months prior but it wasn't something she could grasp. Also I found myself talking through HELPING versus asking if she needed HELP. 
What's your experience with HELP?