GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Words just don't cut it is an expression holds even more meaning when talking with a child who hasn't yet learned to speak. But one local mom says, who needs words when hands work just as well?

Two-year-old Kess Dockery puts her fist to her face and makes a twisting motion. That's just one of her ways of asking for an apple. She could even ask for milk or cereal or even tell you she wants to play, all with her hands. But she was being a bit camera shy Sunday night.

Mom Kendra Dockery has been teaching her American Sign Language since she turned two. "Kess' favorite is milk, and eat or hungry and definitely more. But we have things like horse and cat," says Dockery.

It's a skill Dockery thinks parents and children alike could all benefit from, especially those who haven't yet learned to talk. Dockery says, "You can have that same child know how to say, 'Mommy, eat, hungry, eat, please.' You know and that makes such a huge difference so you don't have the kicking and screaming temper tantrum you have a child telling you what they want."

Dockery says children as young a three months will start recognizing the hand signals but probably won't start giving them back until around seven months. "You can start with whatever key words you want and if they want to eventually learn the entire language they can," she says.

Certified as a Signing Time Academy Instructor, Dockery says learning sign language helps children increase confidence, reduce tantrums and even improve language skills. Dockery says, "This is designed for hearing children so we do a lot of focusing on saying the word while we sign it." Something she says encourages a child to talk and not just sign. "Now see, I was actually afraid of that myself but there are no studies showing there is actually a delay. It actually jump starts their ability to start speaking," says Dockery.

Unfortunately for Kess it doesn't help with the fear of public speaking.

Dockery teaches sign language classes for parents and children as young as four weeks or three and up.

For more information about Dockery’s sign language classes click the link below under Related Links.