Every family’s journey with communication looks a little different. For some, spoken language comes easily. For others, a few extra tools, like sign language, can make all the difference.
For Lainey’s family in Colorado, learning to sign became a way for their family to communicate early and support her spoken language skills. What began as a fun way to spend time with their one-year-old quickly turned into a lifelong skill that has strengthened their family’s bond and eased everyday frustrations.
Meet Lainey
Lainey, now three years old, started virtual sign language classes with Communication Junction when she was just one year old. Since then, she and her family have taken 13 – 8 week sessions of Sign + Play classes, and signing has become part of their daily rhythm.
“We joined so that our family could be better at understanding Lainey and her wants and needs,” her mom shared. “We wanted to give her a way to communicate early and bring new ideas into her everyday world.”
Their goal was simple: to help Lainey express herself and reduce frustration. What they discovered was so much more.
Benefits of Virtual Sign Language Classes for Kids
Because Lainey’s family lives in Colorado, they’ve experienced firsthand how powerful and personal virtual sign language classes can be.
“I don’t know how in-person classes go because we’ve never been,” her mom said, “but I think the virtual classes’ biggest benefit comes in the form of variety.”
Each week, families bring their own toys, crafts, and materials to class, which naturally sparks conversation and learning.
“One week, we might have a different animal toy or use stickers instead of paint for a craft. It opens up opportunities to talk about similarities and differences between what we and the other families have. Sometimes it’s even fun to notice that it’s snowing in Colorado while it’s sunny in Florida!”
That flexibility, and the ability to adapt each week’s theme to their home,has made virtual classes engaging and accessible, no matter where they live.
How Signing Reduced Frustration and Strengthened Connection
Like many toddlers, Lainey has always had a strong personality. She knows what she wants! But before she could use words, expressing those wants could be challenging. When her parents were confused about what she was asking for, she would get frustrated that her communication wasn’t working. That frustration led to big meltdowns, which ultimately resulted in stressful moments for their family; until they started learning how to sign.
“From very early on, when she would get frustrated because we didn’t know what she wanted, we’d start going through signs together to figure it out.”
Her mom vividly remembers one night at her husband’s company holiday dinner:
“Lainey started signing ‘more,’ but we couldn’t figure out what she wanted more of. We went through all the food signs we knew—finally realizing she wanted more cheese and chicken. The meltdown faded away instantly.”
That small moment changed everything. Signing became second nature for the whole family. Whether it was bedtime, mealtime, or playtime, basic sign language helped bridge communication gaps and bring calm to daily routines.
The Lasting Impact of Kids Learning Sign Language
As Lainey’s verbal language developed, her parents noticed how signing continued to support her learning in meaningful ways.
“Lainey seemed to pick up signs faster than spoken words. Even now that she talks more, we all still catch ourselves signing. We’ve also noticed that she remembers things—like colors—better when she learns them through signs first.”
Stories like Lainey’s highlight what we see every day at Communication Junction. Using sign language with your child doesn’t just help little ones communicate earlier, it builds confidence, strengthens family bonds, and creates a foundation for lifelong learning.
Ready to Start Your Signing Journey?
Whether your child is just beginning to babble or already expressing their unique voice full of personality like Lainey, virtual sign language classes can help your family connect, communicate, and grow together.
Join us for an upcoming Sign + Play class to see how signing can bring more calm, connection, and understanding to your everyday moments.
