Recently in the Whare Kākano room, a personal teaching goal of mine has really taken off!
I wanted to introduce basic sign language to our pēpi to support their communication, and it has become a valued part of our daily programme.
Together, we have been learning and practising simple signs such as more, please, thank you, hello, and goodbye. It has been wonderful to see our tamariki becoming increasingly confident in using these signs to express themselves and connect with others.
As our current learning focus is animals, I took the initiative to find some animal signs that we could learn together. The tamariki have shown a real interest and enthusiasm for this new learning. They enjoy practising the signs during play, group times, and conversations throughout the day. This learning strongly links to our centre priority of oral language development.
Sign language provides another way for our pēpi and tamariki to communicate, helping them to understand and use language before they are able to verbally express all of their ideas. As we introduce and model each sign, we pair it with spoken words, strengthening vocabulary, comprehension, and communication skills.
Through repetition, songs, books, and everyday interactions, tamariki are building connections between gestures, words, and meaning, supporting their overall language development. It has been especially rewarding to see the tamariki sharing their new skills with their whānau. Many are excited to go home and demonstrate the animal signs they have learned, extending their learning beyond the centre and creating opportunities for rich language experiences with their families.
This continuity between home and centre further supports the development of oral language and confidence in communication. This experience has highlighted how capable our tamariki are as communicators and learners. It demonstrates that communication comes in many forms and that by providing multiple ways for children to express themselves, we are fostering confidence, engagement, and a strong foundation for oral language development.