More please!

Today was Oliver's third session with Kristen, his ABA therapist, and it was great. While shy at first, he smiled and was happy to see her. He gladly followed her into his bedroom where his sessions will be held. She had her two big bags full of toys and trinkets and she wasted no time pulling out some dolls to tempt Oliver with. He was immediately smitten. They played with the baby, then some playdough at his table, then some beads and a stretchy plastic tube that he could feed the beads into. She had a coffee can with a hole in the lid and a baggie filled with small miscellaneous items for him to put, one at a time, into the can. For today, this was only a play activity but next week, he'll have to start pointing at each item to indicate that he wants it. She will start out by demonstarting the pointing, and doing hand-over-hand to help him point, and eventually, requiring him to point on his own. After Oliver consistently points to demonstrate preference, signing 'all done' and 'help' will be the next things to teach him.

I used signs with Oliver when he was younger, probably starting around 9 months or so. I would frequently use the signs for more, all done, and eat. When he was 12 months, and still not really showing any interest in the signs, I started using them less consistently. Every couple of months I would start up again, using them intensively to try to get him communicating. Eventually it became apparent that he wasn't going to spontaneously immitate me and sign on his own. I then began focusing solely on the 'more' sign. For the past few months, Oliver has seen the 'more' sign demonstarted thousands of times. About 2 months ago he began putting his hands on mine and pushing them together to make the sign. He knew he would then be required to make the sign but since he couldn't do it on his own, after signing with my hands, he would hold his hands out to me so I could then sign with his. I am not always as consistent as I should be trying to teach Oliver these things. Some days I just don't have the energy to sign 'more' in between each bite at mealtime. Sometimes I just need him to eat so we can get out the door.

Yesterday and today we've been signing 'more' pretty intensively. There is a song Oliver loves that includes bouncing a fish around on a blanket. He loves it so much that it's highly motivating. We signed 'more' several dozen times as we sang the song over and over again last night. This afternoon, we did it again. After doing our routine of signing with each other's hands several times, Oliver began to stretch his hands out for me to sign with them, but he withdrew them. He looked intensely at his hands, pinched his fingertips tight and brought his hands together. After months and months of hand-over-hand, my baby signed 'more' ALL BY HIMSELF.

It will still take some time for him to perfect the use of the sign, and to be able to spontaneouly ask for 'more' of something without being prompted to say it, or having it demonstrated for him, but it is such a huge accomplishment for him to make the connection that he can be in control of his own hands, and make them ask for more without my help. I couldn't be more proud.