Sign Language for Toddlers with Speech Delay: A Helpful Guide

Sign language can give a toddler with a speech delay another way to communicate while they're learning to talk. Using signs does not delay speech, and it may support spoken language development. Learn which signs to teach first, how to model them during everyday routines, and when speech therapy might be helpful for your toddler.

Key takeaways

• Sign language does not delay speech. Research suggests that using signs can support a child in learning to talk, while giving them another way to communicate.

• Start with a few useful signs that fit your toddler’s everyday routines, such as “more,” “all done,” “eat,” “drink,” and “help.” Add new signs as your child learns and shows interest.

• You can start teaching signs when your child shows interest in communicating, such as through pointing, reaching, or other gestures. But it’s never too late to start!

• Model the sign while saying the word, and use it during familiar routines. Give your child time to try making the sign, and respond to their tries, even when the sign isn't perfect.

• If you have concerns about your child’s speech or language skills, an evaluation can help you understand their needs and choose the right support.

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The benefits of sign language for toddlers with speech delay

Sign language for toddlers involves using simple gestures to represent words. Babies and toddlers naturally use gestures (like waving or pointing) before they can talk, and baby sign language builds on this ability.

Research shows that children who use gestures and signs early on tend to develop stronger language skills later. Signing can also:

• Reduce frustration by giving children with a speech delay a way to express their needs.

• Improve cognitive skills. Studies suggest that learning sign language may support overall brain development.

• Strengthen parent-child bonding by encouraging responsive communication.

• Encourage spoken language development rather than prevent it. Many children begin to talk more once they realize that communicating gets them something in return!

If your child has a speech delay, sign language can be a bridge to verbal communication. Some children, including those with autism or motor speech disorders, may need extra support to learn to talk, and signing can be a helpful tool in their journey. 

If you’d like a visual guide to some basic signs for toddlers, check out our video below, where we demo 10 essential baby signs.

10 essential signs to teach your speech delayed toddler first

Toddlers learn best when you use signs during everyday routines. Start with signs your child can use often, such as during meals, playtime, or reading. As you model each sign, say the word at the same time. You can also pair the sign with a picture or an object to help your child understand what it means.

“Your child doesn’t need to make the sign perfectly,” says Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP, an Expressable speech therapist and toddler mom. “Any attempt to copy the movement is a step toward communication! For example, if your child makes an approximation of “more,” respond as if they made the sign correctly and give them more of what they requested.”

1 More

How to model it: Bring the tips of your fingers together, as if pinching, then tap both sets of fingers in front of you. 

Try it: Model “more” during meals (“more crackers”), play (“more tickles”), or reading (“more book”). “More” is a helpful first sign because your child can use it to ask for more of many different things!

2 “All done” (or “finished”)

How to model it: Hold both hands up with your palms facing you. Then turn your hands so your palms face away.

Try it: Model “all done” when a meal, bath, or other activity is finished. Pairing “all done” with “more” can help your child communicate whether they want an activity to continue or end.

3 “Eat”

How to model it: Bring your fingertips to your mouth as if you are eating.

Try it: Model “eat” before and during meals and snacks. Say “eat” as you make the sign, then offer your child their food. Since meals happen several times a day, your child will have lots of chances to practice this sign!

4 “Drink”

How to model it: Make a curved hand shape as if you are holding a cup. Bring your hand toward your mouth.

Try it: Model “drink” when offering your child a bottle, cup, or sippy cup. Say “drink” as you make the sign, then give your child their drink.

5 “Help”

How to model it: Make a fist with your thumb up and place it on top of your open palm. Lift both hands together.

Try it: Model “help” when your child needs assistance, such as opening a container, reaching a toy, or putting on a coat. This gives your child another way to ask for help instead of crying, pointing, or pulling you toward what they want.

6 “Milk”

How to model it: Open and close your hand into a fist, as if you are squeezing something.

Try it: Model “milk” when offering milk in a bottle or cup, or during breastfeeding. If your child drinks milk every day, this gives them a simple and quick way to ask for it.

7 “Water”

How to model it: Make a “W” shape with your hand (3 fingers up) and tap it against your chin twice.

Try it: Model “water” when offering a water bottle or cup, playing at the water table, or getting water at the sink. You can also pair “water” with “drink” to help your child communicate what they want to drink.

8 “Play”

How to model it: Make a “Y” shape with both hands by extending your thumbs and pinky fingers. Twist your hands back and forth.

Try it: Model ”play” before starting a favorite activity, taking out a toy, or going to the park. This gives your child a way to ask to play or request a favorite activity.

9 “Book”

How to model it: Place your palms together. Then open your hands like you are opening a book.

Try it: Model “book” when you and your child look at books together, during storytime, or at bedtime. You can also sign it when your child picks up or brings you a book. 

10 “Music” (or “song”)

How to model it: Hold one arm out flat. Sweep your other hand back and forth above it, like you are conducting music.

Try it: Model “music” before playing a favorite song, singing nursery rhymes, or listening to music in the car. Repeated music routines give your child lots of chances to hear and practice the same word and sign. 

Once your child is using several signs on their own, add signs that are meaningful to their everyday life. Try signs for a favorite food, toy, animal, or activity. Following your child's interests can motivate them to use their new skills.

Remember: The goal is not perfect signing. The goal is to give your child another way to communicate their wants, needs, and ideas. Continue talking to your child while you sign so they can connect the sign with the spoken word.

How do you teach sign language to your toddler?

Teaching your toddler sign language can be simple. You don’t need to sign every word you say. Just focus on a few useful words that your child can use often during everyday routines.

Try these steps to get started:

1. Choose a few useful signs. Start with three or four signs that match your child’s daily routines and interests. Signs such as "more," "eat," "drink," "help," and "all done" are good options because your child can use them throughout the day.

2. Model the sign while saying the word. Show your child the sign while you say the word out loud. For example, during a meal, say “more pasta” while making the "more" sign.

You can repeat the sign several times during the same routine. “Your child may watch you for a while before trying it themselves, and that’s OK,” Barnes reassures parents. “The goal is to give them plenty of chances to see and hear the sign.”

3. Give your child a chance to try. Pause after you model the sign and give your child a few seconds to respond. They may copy the sign, make a similar gesture, point, or use another form of communication.

You can gently guide their hands if they need help learning the movement, but don't force your child to make a sign. Instead, keep modeling it and give them chances to try.

4. Respond to your child’s attempts. When your child tries to use a sign, respond right away. For example, if they make a movement similar to "eat," you might say, “Yes! Eat!” and give them some food.

When you respond to their tries, it helps your child learn that their communication has meaning and you understand what they're trying to say.

5. Use signs during everyday routines. Look for natural opportunities to practice signs throughout the day. Mealtimes, playtime, bath time, and bedtime can all become chances to practice.

Using the same sign during the same routine helps your child connect the sign with its meaning. Barnes recommends pairing the sign with an object, picture, or action to make the meaning even clearer! 

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A first-week starter plan

You don’t need to introduce a long list of signs at once. For the first week, try focusing on just three signs: “more,” “eat,” and “all done.” 

Here’s what that might look like:

At breakfast

• Say and sign “eat” before giving your child their food.

• Say and sign “more” when they ask for another serving.

• Say and sign “all done” when the meal is finished.

At lunch and dinner

• Repeat the same three signs during the meal.

• Give your child a chance to try the sign before you respond.

• Accept any close attempt your child makes. They don’t need to make the sign perfectly.

Throughout the week

• Keep using these three signs during meals.

• Say the word every time you make the sign.

• Pause occasionally to give your child a chance to communicate.

• Follow your child’s lead and keep practice relaxed and natural.

That’s all you need to do for the first week! Short, repeated practice during familiar routines is more useful than trying to teach many signs at once. Once your child starts using these signs, you can add a few more that fit their needs and interests.

How long does it take for a toddler to learn sign language?

There is no set timeline for when a toddler will learn or use a sign. Some children may imitate a sign after seeing it a few times. Others may need weeks or longer before they use it on their own.

Children with speech or language delays may also learn signs at different rates. The important thing is to keep modeling signs consistently and give your child plenty of chances to communicate.

If your child is having trouble learning or using signs, or you have concerns about their overall communication skills, consider talking with a speech-language pathologist, also known as a speech therapist. They can evaluate your child’s communication skills and recommend strategies that fit their needs.

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What if my child makes a sign incorrectly?

That’s OK! Your toddler doesn’t need to make a sign perfectly for it to count as communication. For example, your child may tap their fist against their palm instead of making the “more” sign exactly as you do. If they use that movement consistently to mean “more,” respond as if it's a communication attempt.

“Young children are still learning to coordinate and move their hands,” explains Barnes. “Just as toddlers may say ‘baba’ instead of ‘bottle,’ their early signs may look different from the standard form.”

The best thing you can do is respond to your child’s attempt, then continue modeling the correct sign. With practice and development, their signs may become more precise over time.

Does teaching sign language delay speech?

No, research shows that teaching your toddler sign language does not delay speech. In fact, it may support their spoken language development.

Some parents worry that teaching their child to sign will discourage them from talking. However, research has found that signing can support, rather than prevent, verbal speech development. A landmark study by Acredolo and Goodwyn found that toddlers who learned signs developed spoken language at the same pace or faster than toddlers who did not learn signs.

For toddlers with speech delays, signs give them a way to communicate while spoken language is still developing.

For toddlers with speech delays, signs give them a way to communicate while they're still learning to talk. Your child can use signs to express wants, needs, and ideas even when they don’t yet have the words to say them. Signing can also show your child that communication is powerful: when they use a sign to ask for something, they see that their message can be understood.

“Parents worry all the time that signing will make things worse. I want to reassure you it won’t!” Barnes says. “In more than a decade of clinical work with speech delayed toddlers, I have never seen a child whose spoken language was slowed by learning signs. What I see is the opposite. Once a child sees that a ‘more’ sign gets them more crackers, they begin to understand that communication has power. That can be a really important step in their communication journey.”

Supporting your toddler’s communication

Every child learns to communicate at their own pace. Your toddler may use signs for a short time as they begin talking, or they may continue using signs along with spoken words. Either way, the goal is to give your child a way to communicate and help them feel heard and understood.

If you have concerns about your toddler’s speech or language development, talk with your pediatrician or a licensed speech therapist. Sign language can support communication, but it should not replace an evaluation when you’re unsure about your child’s development.

Check out our treatment guide to learn more about speech delay in toddlers. If you’re concerned about your child’s speech, we’re here to help. Get matched with a speech therapist who’s right for your family.