It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right? But when you’re parenting a baby or toddler, the most magical time of year can also be one of the most stressful.
Between the excitement of new experiences, creating family memories, juggling holiday gatherings, and trying to protect those precious nap schedules and mealtimes, it can feel like a balancing act. We want our little ones to experience ALL the magic, but we also know that one missed nap, one delayed meal, or one overstimulating family gathering can turn that holiday magic into a meltdown pretty quickly.
Here’s the good news: A few simple signs can make navigating the holiday hustle a little easier for both you and your little one. When routines change, environments become overwhelming, and your little one doesn’t quite have the words to tell you what they need, signs can help bridge that communication gap.
10 ASL Signs to Use With Your Little One This Holiday Season
You don’t need to teach your little one dozens of new signs before the holidays arrive. Start with a few simple, functional signs that fit naturally into your holiday activities and daily routines.
The key is to say the word AND use the sign as you’re talking with your little one. The more frequently and consistently they see the signs in meaningful moments, the more opportunities they have to understand and eventually use them to communicate with you.
Signs to help meet your child’s basic wants & needs
When holiday schedules get busy, our little ones’ basic needs don’t change, even when their routines do! These three signs can be especially helpful when you’re away from home, visiting family, or juggling a busy holiday schedule.
Signs for navigating holidays
The holidays are full of exciting experiences, but they can also bring frustration when little ones can’t communicate what they want or need.
Signs for Sharing Holiday Connections
The holidays are also about connecting with the people we love. These signs are wonderful opportunities to model language during meaningful family interactions.
Remember, you don’t need to introduce all 10 signs at once! Choose two or three that fit naturally into your family’s holiday routines. Model them frequently, say the word as you sign, and give your little one opportunities to see those signs in action.
And don’t worry if your little one’s signs don’t look exactly like yours. Just like their first spoken words, their first signs might be an attempt at their own version. Keep modeling and responding to their attempts to communicate.
The goal isn’t perfect signing. It’s helping meet your little one’s wants and needs. With less frustration and more communication
Will signing prevent every holiday meltdown? Of course not! But giving your little one another way to communicate their wants, needs, and feelings can make those busy holiday moments a little less frustrating and a lot more connected.
And isn’t that what makes the holidays so wonderful in the first place?
Want to keep building your little one’s communication skills beyond the holidays?
Join us for a Communication Junction Sign & Play Class! We’ll show you how to incorporate signs, songs, and playful language-building strategies into the routines you’re already doing with your little one.
