Your toddler is pointing at the counter, crying, and turning red. You offer a cracker, and they scream. You offer water, and they throw their head back. It’s heartbreaking for you and exhausting for them. All parents have been in this situation.
\nThe truth is, your toddler’s brain is often steps ahead of their mouth. They know exactly what they need, but they don't have the words to say it yet. This is called the “Communication Gap,” and it is one of the biggest causes of toddler stress. By adding just a few simple hand movements to your day, you can help your toddler feel heard and understood.
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However, their ability to speak clearly usually lags behind their ability to understand the world.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"When a child can’t get their point across, they often fall into a ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"frustration-tantrum cycle","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". A tantrum is often just a physical reaction to being misunderstood. When the words won’t come out, the feelings come out as a scream or a cry. By using gestures, you can give them a shortcut to tell you what they need before the frustration boils over. It can be a helpful tool and a way for their brain to stay calm and connected to you.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Why Signs Are Good for Their Heart (and Brain)","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Using signs can help support your child’s long-term emotional health.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Building Confidence: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"When a child signs “milk,” and you hand them a cup, they feel powerful. This early success builds a child’s confidence. They learn that their voice (or their hands!) matters and that they can express their needs effectively.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Co-Regulation: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Your calm is contagious. When you use calm gestures and signs, you help your child copy your peaceful energy. This is a process called co-regulation. For example, you can take slow, deep breaths, or gently place a hand over your heart while lowering your voice. These simple actions give your child a visual guide on how to calm their own body down.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"A Bridge to Speaking:","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" Signs act as a bridge, helping children understand the meaning of words while they work on making the sounds.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"}],"nodeType":"unordered-list"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"These early moments of success can help lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy communication and trust.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Practical Ways to Start Signing at Home","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"You don’t need to be an expert in sign language to start. You just need a few common signs to help your child feel heard.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"1. Pick Your Top Three","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Start with three signs that your child would use every day. “More,” “Eat,” and “All Done” are great starters because they involve things your toddler likely cares about most.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"2. Say It, Sign It, Do It","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Every time you say the word, make the sign and then do the action. For example, if you ask, “Do you want more?” make the sign for more, and then give them a bite. This helps their brain connect the sound, the movement, and the result.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"3. Follow Their Lead","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Sometimes toddlers make up their own “signs.” Maybe they pat their tummy when they are hungry or tug their ear when they are tired. Acknowledging these natural gestures is just as important as teaching formal signs. If they make a gesture, repeat it back to them and say the word. “Oh, you are patting your tummy. You are hungry!”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"4. Stay Patient and Positive","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"It might take a few weeks for your toddler to sign back. That’s okay! Keep using the signs yourself. Your consistency tells them that communication is a safe, fun, and reliable way to connect with you.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"If you want a quick visual guide to help you learn simple signs, you can check out this ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://babysignlanguage.com/chart/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"free online sign language chart","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Every sign you use is a small gift of language that can help make your toddler’s world feel a little bit safer.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"You Are Their Best Teacher","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"By using signs, you are doing more than just stopping or preventing a tantrum. You are giving your child the tools to tell you how they feel and what they need. You are showing them that you are listening, even when they don’t have the words yet.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"}},"author":{"name":"First 5 California","image":{"file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/xf6mqlbz6glx/4pO9QBIn13KrsiJXdYwN16/a89042a9f8c029e5e5694d4fbdd0877f/first-5-california-logo.png"}}},"sources":{"json":{"nodeType":"document","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://mentalhealthcenterkids.com/blogs/articles/research-on-gestures-and-childhood-communication-skills"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Mental Health Center Kids","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2018/promoting-social-and-emotional-health"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"National Association for the Education of Young Children","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/your-calm-is-their-calm-co-regulation-strategies-for-infants-and-toddlers/"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Zero to Three","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]}]}},"bookImage":null,"bookDescription":null,"bookDownload":null,"bookLink":null,"youtubeVideoId":null,"showFeaturedVideo":null,"showFeaturedActivities":null},"sidebarContent":{"pageFeaturedDownloadLabel":null,"pageFeaturedDownloadTitle":null,"pageFeaturedDownloadImage":null,"pageFeaturedDownloadAsset":null,"pageFeaturedDownloadLink":null,"pageFeaturedDownloadCta":null,"pageFeaturedVideo":null,"pageFeaturedService":null,"pageFeaturedActivities":null,"pageFeaturedQuote":null}},"pageContext":{"id":"68c903b6-23f8-57ed-92d7-3f43336e2bf1","contentful_id":"3Xl59vbWDAXXNQv83wovRm","locale":"es-MX","section":"topics"}},"staticQueryHashes":["1119012108","1697936219","179512363","179512363","179512363","2544526753","2864971689","2920524551","526850764","526850764","526850764","576933679","984081858"]}