A topic that has caught my interest with my second baby is sign language for babies. With my firstborn it didn’t really catch my eye and I also had all the time in the world to try to detect what he wanted or not. But with my second boy it proved to be very useful that we could establish some communication before the spoken word. A friend of mine introduced me to sign language for babies and once we got started I was hooked. It is so simple and babies are such fast learners. I believe it took only a couple of days before the initial conversation took place. That was something like “food – now!” Simple and straight to the point. Which is exactly what a mom needs.
What is sign language for babies?
Sign language for babies, or signing as it is also called, is a technique that is used to communicate with babies before they are able to speak the spoken language. Babies often turn to crying or unhappiness when they are unable to express themselves. Using sign language for babies you will enable your baby to express feelings and needs before being able to express themselves with words.
At an early age, your baby knows the difference between different objects and animals in their everyday lives and they know that there are different names for things. Also, your baby understands your words for food, milk and all of the daily necessities but they are not able to express themselves in a way that you immediately understand.
Sign language for babies helps your baby express his or her needs. Using sign language for babies reduces the frustrations that can arise when your baby is not understood. Another advantage is that you might also learn new things about your baby and the things he or she is interested in. I bet all moms have tried holding a frustrated baby that can’t stop crying and out of lack of knowledge we are trying to meet that need trying out different things. Are you hungry, are you thirsty, do you need a clean diaper, do you want the bunny, the red blanket, the green teddy bear and so on. Wouldn’t it be great if your baby could just express that need?
When can you start using sign language for babies?
The ability to gesticulate and use sign language develops faster than the spoken language and most babies are ready to practice sign language from the age of 9-10 months. As your baby grow older and the language skills develop the baby will slowly stop using the signs and replace them with spoken words. Most babies that have been used to signing will stop completely around 2-2,5 years of age. As a parent you will also realize that you stop using the sign language as the spoken communication increases.
Baby Sign Language gives your child greater self-esteem because your child is now able to express needs, interests and feelings in a more specific way than by crying or different sounds. This self-esteem is useful for learning spoken language as your child is already confident with the concept of communication, he or she knows that you are able to understand what is communicated. When the child is confident that you will understand then he or she is also more confident when the spoken language starts to develop. Therefore, using sign language for babies can be really helpful for your child, both at an early stage and when he or she is a toddler.
How to get started on sign language for babies
The most important thing to remember when starting sign language for babies is to start with a few simple signs and repeat them until your baby is confident using them. Make sure he or she learns few simple ones before introducing new ones. The most common ones to start with are the signs for eating, drinking and sleeping.
There are many ways to seek more information about signing and how to learn using the signs. Google is always a great place to start and there are many web sites that can give you tons of information about this subject. You can also take a class with a professional that can help you learn about the different signs and how to introduce them to your baby.
There are also many books about the subject. A book can be a great way of learning baby sign language and many books are also interesting for your baby to look inside so you can read them together. There are also many dvd’s that are great for learning sign language for babies.
Here are some books and DVDs that I have tried and recommend for learning baby sign language:
Baby Signs Complete Starter Kit
This is a great kit if you a new to sign language for babies. It contains both books and dvd’s and it explains the whole concept in a way that is easy to understand and easy to learn. You also get a quick flip reference guide that you can stick on the fridge.
Read more about Baby Signs Complete Starter Kit here.
Baby Sign Language Basics
Another great book about sign language for babies. Suitable for beginners and people who want to learn more about this subject. more than 300 American Sign Language (ASL) signs, illustrated with the same clear, easy-to-understand photos and descriptions. Also introduces songs and games for two-way communication.
Read more about Baby Sign Language Basics here
Sign Language for Babies: Flash Cards
These flash cards are great for learning new signs. They introduce American Sign Language (ASL) signs for the words that babies and small children need most. They provide eye-catching illustrations help young children to recognize common objects, actions, and emotion.
Read more about Flash Cards here
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My daughter will be 18 months at the end of this month. Am I too late to start using sign language? It’s getting harder and harder to read her thoughts, which in turn is causing more and more temper tantrums.
I don’t think its too late at all. Even if it is just for a short period you can use it to support the development of the spoken language.