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View Full Version : Walking...and signing? Not exactly



dmmetler
05-10-2006, 02:59 PM
Alli's really starting to put together this walking stuff-although she's definitely got more of an uncoordinated Frankenstein lumber going on than anything at all coordinated-but still, almost overnight she went from occasionally taking a few steps without really seeming to notice she was doing it to actively using walking to move from place to place. She still needs help to get to her feet-something to pull up against, and mommy will do in a pinch, so when she tumbles, she then either signs for HELP UP to get me to come over so she can pull up on me and start over, or she crawls to the nearest appropriate object.

One thing I think is interesting (and I hope to get it on video before she figures it out) is that right now she stops and sits down when she wants to sign anything. The only thing I can think of is that she's used to having to get her hands free when crawling in order to sign, and she hasn't yet figured out that her hands aren't occupied when she's walking. So, it's a big production-she'll stop in the middle of the room, sit down, sign what she wants to say (which is usually something earth shattering like RED BALL-she can't pass a ball without identifying it), then she'll go to all the trouble of getting back to her feet in order to move on, until she sees something else she likes. And, since she has to say and/or sign the name of everything she knows, it makes for a lot of starts and stops (she's probably getting close to 200 signs, since she seems to have added almost all of 10-14 almost overnight, with probably close to 100 spoken word sounds, albeit most not understandable without the sign to support them). I guess she'll figure that out, but it's very cute right now.

She even walked a few steps for her PDO teacher today ;)


Yay, Alli!!

musictchr1
05-10-2006, 09:53 PM
Definitely get out the video camera! Sounds adorable!!!

I'm the mom of a late non-walker, too... she cruises around furniture very easily, but doesn't walk independent of holding on to something or someone...

lovemy6sweeties
05-11-2006, 09:19 AM
That is wonderful!!!

I wonder if she sits down to sign because it takes extra balance to sign and stand and walk - lots of things to put together :) It sounds so dang cute though, you better catch it on tape before it disappears!!! I'm sure it will only last until she is fully confident in walking :) Soooo happy for you!!!