Today I must encourage any mother with a ‘baby’ out there – Never think they’re too young!

Our children have been sick this past week with 3 different viruses – myself included. Needless to say, we didn’t do much, and we watched a little more television than is usually allowed. I’m not really sure what we were watching, but there were crabs on it….

My baby is 13 months old, and everytime the crab would come up, I would say the word ‘crab’, and also sign it. Basically, just opening and closing your fingers together on both hands – like the pinchers. Much to my surprise, he signed it back! And over and over again!! He was so proud of himself, not to mention Mommy was a little proud.

In the past couple of months, he’s not only started the ‘da da’, ‘ma ma’, ‘no no’ talking, but signing some as well. Last week, he tried to sign and say ‘da da’. His finger didn’t quite make it to tapping above his nose for Daddy, but it made the side of his face, and he was so proud!

He can (and DOES) sign “All Done” when he’s finished eating and wants out of his chair. Now, we still have to work a little on patience and the manners that go along with that as he must wait for the rest of us to finish our meal.

All this said, don’t think your child is too young to start teaching. Count their fingers and toes – he especially loves this – sitting so perfectly still waiting for me to count each one. He can’t say the numbers yet, but he’s learning how they sound and the order they go in.

Before my oldest was 2 years old, he knew all of the ABC’s and could say words that started with each of them. I can’t remember how high he could count, but I believe he could make it into the teens if not twenty by age two. He was reading Dick and Jane books by age 3 1/2!

Not each child will have this enthusiasm for learning, so don’t feel bad if your child isn’t on that path. I can safely say my second child won’t be at that point – I just haven’t had the time to take with her like I did my first. BUT, she does love one on one learning time with mom, and in my opinion, that’s when the best learning takes place!

Through structure out the window (rigid structure) – and allow life to present learning for you at this stage. It wasn’t my plan for us to watch television/ movies this week as much as we did, but when we’re all sick, that’s about all we had energy for. ….Not to mention it kept the crankiness down….

But I was able to take the time to talk with my children as we watched, and now my 13 month old knows a new sign!

“Mrs. Candace”