Explain Your Every Move

Ever since Noah was born, I have explained things that I was doing whether it be putting a sock on his left foot, or naming objects that we were playing with. I’m not sure if this is a blindness thing or just how I am as a person.

I’ve read that being detailed about your actions, explaining what you are doing, naming objects or colors, and repeating yourself is helpful for little ones to develop their language skills.

For example, in the morning when I get him dressed and out of his sleeper, I explain what I am doing. I tell him that I am putting his shirt over his head. I take his right arm and put his hand in the arm hole and say “push push push,” and he pushes it through to the end. I do the same on the other side. I tell him I am buttoning his shirt. When putting on socks or pants, I state which foot I am putting a sock on, or that I am pulling his pants up. He always touches the garbage can next to his changing pad when he is having his diaper changed. I always tell him, “dirty,” and he repeats it over and over.

We repeat a few times if he is holding a ball, so he gets used to the word “ball.” He already knows the words, hot, banana, door, dirty, and ball. Granted, they do not sound exactly like the words, but the words “hot” and “banana” are pretty spot on.

Noah has a portable heater in his room on the floor because our house temperature fluctuates like crazy. Noah will always say “hot” and point to it. I took him over to it and had him feel the warm air coming out and repeated the word “hot.” He will not touch the heater, but will feel the air. When we were in the basement last night, on his play mat, the furnace turned on. He pointed right to it and said hot. Also, when the heat comes on and he is near a vent in the house, he will crawl over to it, and say “hot,” but not touch it.

I think I am so hands on and try to include all of the senses because I have had to rely on all of the senses throughout my life. I try to incorporate smell, touch, and hearing maybe more than my husband for example.

I ask my husband what color certain toys or cars are so that I can repeat those too. There are also various toys that have braille on them so that I can teach Noah his shapes, colors, letters and numbers. We currently have a chunky puzzle that has different shapes and colors. He probably has no idea what I am saying but I will show him a triangle or a circle and tell him what it is. He usually proceeds to take it from me and toss it over his back. Silly boy.

One of the hardest things lately is when he points, which he will do constantly. I am not always sure what he is pointing at, but I will take my hand and follow his arm to his pointing finger and try to figure out the general vicinity of where he is looking. It is usually the fake flowers that he loves touching on the kitchen or dining room tables. He also loves throwing himself backwards in your arms and looking straight up at the ceiling fan.

It’s fun teaching him things and hearing his words evolve. He will be talking non-stop in no time, God help us!