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Long before babies say their first words, they’re already trying to communicate—and in Vivvi&#8217;s <a href="https://vivvi.com/infant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infant program</a>, many educators are helping them succeed through baby sign language. For Amanda Olivares, an infant teacher at Vivvi, introducing sign language isn’t just a helpful classroom practice—it’s a powerful tool that deepens connection and supports development.



“We depend a lot on talking as a form of communication,” Amanda explains. “But with babies under one, they can’t even speak yet. One of the biggest challenges is knowing what they need when even they don’t fully know what they need.” Through sign language, Amanda says, infants can express their needs clearly—long before verbal language arrives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why It Matters</h2>



In Amanda’s infant classroom at Vivvi, baby sign language is embedded into daily routines—during meals, diaper changes, and transitions—offering infants the opportunity to learn key signs like milk, more, all done, and diaper. “I’ve had children who could sign all those things before they could even say hello,” Amanda says. “It makes a huge difference in how we respond to and support them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Benefits of Baby Sign Language</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Reduces frustration: Gives babies a clear way to express themselves before they can speak.</li>



<li>Strengthens emotional connection. Builds trust and deepens caregiver-child relationships through <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/arts-and-crafts-improve-children-communication-skills" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meaningful communication</a>.</li>



<li>Encourages early communication. Fosters expressive and receptive language skills from infancy.</li>



<li>Supports smoother transitions between classrooms. Children who begin signing in infancy continue to use signs as they grow, easing communication during classroom changes.</li>



<li>Bridges the gap until <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/articles/abcs-of-child-language-development" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speech develops</a>. Enables toddlers to share needs and feelings even before they’re fully verbal.</li>



<li>Creates inclusive communication. Sign language is a universal tool that transcends spoken languages and supports families from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds.</li>



<li>Boosts confidence and independence. Empowers babies to advocate for themselves in small but important ways. </li>
</ul>



As Amanda puts it, “We’re communicating from the moment we enter this world. If we can meet babies where they are—without waiting for words—we build stronger relationships and help them feel seen and heard.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Quick Guide for Parents</h2>



Want to start using baby sign language at home? Here are a few tips from Amanda:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Start small with 2–3 simple signs and use them daily.</li>



<li>Always pair signs with the spoken word to reinforce meaning.</li>



<li>Repeat often—repetition helps babies connect the sign with the need.</li>



<li>Be patient and consistent—signing back takes time.</li>



<li>Celebrate progress, even if it’s just a partial sign or gesture.</li>
</ol>



“When a baby can tell you what they need—without saying a word—it’s powerful,” Amanda says. “Sign language is one more way to give them that voice.”

Through sign language, infants can express their needs clearly—long before verbal language arrives.

The Benefits of Baby Sign Language

Whether your child is heading back to preschool or daycare, moving into a new classroom, welcoming a new sibling, or something completely different—one thing is certain: transitions are hard on young children.



Transitions can be challenging for children of all ages, but they are especially difficult for toddlers and preschoolers who are still developing their coping skills.



<a href="https://rebeccahershbergphd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, PhD</a> is a clinical psychologist, parenting coach, and the author of The Tantrum Survival Guide: Tune In to Your Toddler&#8217;s Mind (and Your Own) to Calm the Craziness and Make Family Fun Again. She’s one of Vivvi’s favorite experts to bring in on major challenges facing parents and young children.



The most important thing you can do to prepare your child for big transitions is to prepare yourself, according to Dr. Hershberg.



“These things trickle down, the emotions and the energy that parents embody trickles down to our kids,” she told Vivvi. “If we’re really nervous or anxious or high strung about transitions, even if we’re saying the right words and doing the right things with our kids, that’s going to get overshadowed by what they can pick up: what you’re actually feeling—anxious.”



Here are more of Dr. Hershberg’s top suggestions for supporting your young children through transitions.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Set a date</h4>



Can you always schedule your big life changes? No. But when you can, take advantage.



Look at your calendar and pick a date to start <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/potty-training-problems" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potty training</a>. Then work backward to make sure you don’t have too many other big events or transitions going on at the same time. Confirming with the calendar helps you feel more relaxed, controlled, and regulated, Dr. Hershberg told us. “It’s essential to look at what else you have going on,” she said. “Many families make the very well-intentioned and sometimes unavoidable mistake of taking these on at the same time, or not really looking, and it turns out you’ve started potty training the weekend before you have a big presentation at work or while your partner is out of town.”



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. When to tell your child</h4>



Include telling your child about the transition to your calendar, as well. You want to clue your child in to the change they’re about to experience, and talk openly with them—but not too early.



Dr. Hershberg has recommendations on how soon in advance they’ll be able to wrap their minds around the change. She says four-year-olds can handle 5-7 days notice. Three-year-olds even less, roughly 3 days.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. How to tell your child</h4>



Don’t expect to sit down for a big discussion. Toddlers and preschoolers can’t really sit down and have a long talk about an upcoming transition yet. They get bored, squirmy, and want to walk around.



<ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"></ol>



But young children in this age range can focus and listen if they have an activity and also they don’t have to look you directly in the eye while they process this new information. That’s a lot of pressure.



“I often think talking in the car is a great idea. Sometimes kids feel like when you’re looking at them it’s too much pressure, you can talk to them when you’re unloading the dishwasher, when you’re both sitting and drawing with crayons,” Dr. Hershberger said. “Sometimes families make the mistake of trying to sit and have a conversation with their 2-, 3-, or 4-year-old. That’s not how that age group relates.”



Explain what is going to happen and why to your child. Use simple language that your child can understand.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Talk about the transition in a positive way and focus on the exciting aspects of the change.</li>



<li>Answer your child&#8217;s questions honestly and openly, but avoid giving too much information that could be overwhelming.</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Name things that will be the same</h4>



While talking about upcoming changes and transitions, don’t forget to name things that will stay the same. Yes, your child may be going to a new daycare—but mommy will still be doing drop off. Yes, your child may be moving from a crib to a bed—but daddy will still read bedtime stories.



“You&#8217;re naming that the family rituals and <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/routines-for-young-children" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">routines</a> which kids get so attached to and that help them feel safe are still going to be the same in a lot of ways,” Dr. Hershberger told Vivvi. “It&#8217;s not suddenly their whole world is going to be turned upside down.”



Tip: create a story book about your transition! Write the story out and make it your bedtime story for the next week until the transition happens. Children find a lot of comfort in stories and in books so creating it together that they can return to is a powerful thing.



This can be used whether you’re getting ready for a new daycare, going from crib to bed. Add things that are different, but also things that will be the same. You can go total Pinterest on your book, or use a stack of post-it notes with chicken scratch—your child will love it just the same.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. Transitions Take Time</h4>



Transitions can take time for young children to adjust to. Be patient and understanding with your child as they go through this process.&nbsp;



Parents can expect most big transitions taking between two and three weeks before your child (and everyone else in the family) finds a rhythm.



“This is not a one-week situation,” Dr. Hershberger said. ”Have patience with yourself and patience with yourself.”



Allow your child to express their emotions about the transition, and reassure them that you’ll be there with them. Celebrate your child’s successes and milestones during the transition.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">6. Brace for Regression</h4>



Include telling your child about the transition to your calendar, as well. You want to clue your child in to the change they’re about to experience, and talk openly with them—but not too early.



Dr. Hershberg has recommendations on how soon in advance they’ll be able to wrap their minds around the change. She says four-year-olds can handle 5-7 days notice. Three-year-olds even less, roughly 3 days.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">7. When to worry</h4>



There’s no litmus test for when to ask for help with something as nebulous as feelings around a transition, but Dr. Hershberger says there is a window of time where getting help becomes necessary.



If you’ve reached the two-month mark and your child is still struggling with a change or transition, it may be time to call for support.



“If it&#8217;s getting in the way in a real way, really interfering with their ability to do whatever it is they need to do—then you seek some support from a therapist, coach, or teacher,” Dr. Hershberger said. “It just means you need a little extra support, not that you&#8217;re doomed.”



Transitions can be challenging for young children, but with support and guidance, they can learn to cope with change and thrive in new environments.

Transitions or big changes can be challenging for young children, but with support and guidance, they can learn to cope with change and thrive in new environments.

How to Support your Child through Transitions

How to Support your Child Through Transitions

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that kids&#8217; artwork should look a certain way—recognizable, symmetrical, maybe even fridge-worthy. A Pinterest-perfect pumpkin in October? A cute cotton-ball snowman in December? That’s product-focused art. The emphasis is on achieving a specific outcome, often with step-by-step instructions that kids are expected to follow.



But what if the goal of art wasn’t to make something “right,” but to simply make something? That’s what process-focused art is all about. Instead of aiming for a perfect final product, kids get to explore materials, mix colors, try new techniques, and make their own creative choices. It might look like a jumble of lines and paint splatters to us, but to them, it’s an exciting discovery.



<a href="https://vivvi.com/infant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">At Vivvi,</a> we believe the process of creating is far more important than the end result. Here’s why:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Process-Based Learning Matters</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. It Fuels Imagination</h3>



When kids aren’t following a template, their creativity runs wild. They experiment with colors, textures, and shapes in ways we might never expect. Without the pressure to make something look a certain way, they get to play—and play is how young children learn best.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. It Builds Confidence and Independence</h3>



Have you ever seen a toddler proudly show off a scribble, completely convinced it’s a masterpiece? That’s because, in their eyes, it is! Process-focused art gives kids ownership over their work. They make decisions, solve problems, and learn that their choices matter—all of which builds confidence.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. It Encourages Emotional Expression</h3>



Young children don’t always have the words to describe how they feel, but they can show us <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/spring-art-activities-toddlers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">through art</a>. Maybe they swirl blue paint because they’re feeling calm, or press down hard with a crayon because they’re frustrated. Giving kids the freedom to create helps them process emotions in a healthy, constructive way.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. It Makes Room for Mistakes (and Learning from Them)</h3>



In product-based art, there’s a “right” and “wrong” way to do things. But in process-based art, mistakes are just part of the experience. Spilled paint? That’s a chance to see how colors mix. A rip in the paper? Let’s turn it into something new! This kind of thinking helps children become more resilient and adaptable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why We Choose Process Art at Vivvi</h2>



At Vivvi, we’re not just teaching kids to make art—we’re helping them think like artists. That means encouraging curiosity, creativity, and confidence, rather than focusing on “perfect” results.



When you see your child’s artwork from school, it might not always be clear what it is (and let’s be honest, they might not be able <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/arts-and-crafts-improve-children-communication-skills" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to tell you</a> either!). But rest assured, every brushstroke and glued-on scrap represents exploration, decision-making, and self-expression.



So the next time you find yourself wishing for a neatly colored-in worksheet, remember this: your child isn’t just creating art—they’re creating ideas, confidence, and joy. And that’s something worth celebrating.

When you focus on the process of creating rather than the final product, that’s where the real learning happens.

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