Talking Hands

 

This is a picture of my son learning to shape his hand into the sign language "I Love You" sign. He has long since mastered this. Now he flashes me a couple every day, sometimes when I least expect it. It always makes for one of those mommy-moments where your kid makes you swoon.

Watching children master hand signs is pretty enlightening. It makes you realize just how hard they're working to gain mastery of their little hands. Young children can't imitate these hand postures automatically. They contort their hands at first, twist and turn their bodies, even stick out their tongues (as if that will help!) in an effort to get their fingers to assume the intended position. Only with repeated practice are they able to make the sign spontaneously. If you haven't tried this with your child yet, try it, and you'll see what I mean.

Imitating hand postures is a simple, no-fuss way to work on hand skills every day. And integrating these little hand exercises into your day couldn't get any easier. Just flash your kid the thumbs up when he's doing something great, and wait for him to flash it back. Or give her the "OK" sign when you agree to one of her requests, and she will return it.

My son and I exchange "pinky promises." He has to isolate out his tiny little pinky finger to clasp it with mine, which is almost as hard for him to do as keeping his promise.

But, hands down, my favorite sign is still "I Love You." 

Try this with your kids and report back, please. Is it as easy as it looks?

Comments

[Heather]

I was so excited when my two older boys learned this sign and then so dismayed when they got a little older and realized if they did it palm up and arm extended it was the same as spiderman shooting a web. I get a lot more spiderman and a lot less I love you. Every once and a while they'll see me from a distance and shoot me the sign which is still really nice though.

[Jody]

When my daughter first started signing "I love you" it was her index finger only pointed at whoever she inteded the love for. It was really fun watching her little fingers try and try to get it "right." Now that she does it correctly, I miss those earlier attempts and I can't wait for my younger son to go through those stages as well.