If your kid did/does sign language...

EcoBaby · June 2010

Did s/he seem to talk later than other toddlers? I was reading something earlier today that was saying bilingual babies might talk later than others, and I wasn't sure if that were the same for babies and signing. It doesn't seem like it would be true for signing because all babies communicate with their hands in some way - whether its formal sign language or not. But... just wondering what your experience was.

Jelliebean1982 · June 2010

It actually helped her, I think. I saw that when I taught her signs for words that she couldn't actually say (like alligator at 14 mo) that she attempted to say those words more often. Plus, for early talkers, many of their words sound alike. Ball, blanket, blueberries, etc. Without sign I might not have been able to distinguish what she was saying and adding the signs really helped her frustration in trying to communicate.

ErinMSB · June 2010

Jelliebean1982:

It actually helped her, I think. I saw that when I taught her signs for words that she couldn't actually say (like alligator at 14 mo) that she attempted to say those words more often. Plus, for early talkers, many of their words sound alike. Ball, blanket, blueberries, etc. Without sign I might not have been able to distinguish what she was saying and adding the signs really helped her frustration in trying to communicate.

Definitely this.

DD started with Mamma and Dadda at a little over a year. She said "apple" loud and clear at 14 months. After that, the words just kept coming, even if I don't always understand them. And she's still adding new signs too. (We started signing with her about 7-8 months and she started signing back with just a couple signs at about 10-11 months.) Now some words she says, some she signs, and some she does both!

jazzyag · June 2010

similar to PPs for us...we only used about a dozen key signs, but I think it helped her speak earlier. signs reinforced spoken language.

Harper'smom · June 2010

We did a dozen or so signs and now that she can say the words she still signs the words for emphasis. Like when she really wants MORE! we get the sign and the word. However once the words started coming quickly without signs we didn't continue to add new signs. I don't feel like we did enough signing to impact her speaking significantly but the signs we did do were very helpful in bridging the communication barrier.

goodheartedmommy · June 2010

E was a late talker (didn't sign with him until about 18 months, though), B was really early (started with her about 6 months), and M is on time-slightly lateish.

jen5-03 · June 2010

DD was an early talker and continues to be very verbal. We used less signs than I expected to because she started picking up the words instead of the sign - because you do both at the same time. So no, it didn't hinder her.

She still signs please and sometimes she signs more, but only with the words too and only when she's begging Stick out tongue

kat.in.the.hat · June 2010

the way to avoid this is to always use signs and language together. that way they know they go together.

I think we started signing around ten months/a year and just did maybe five signs. she caught on very quickly and i think she's super verbal for her age.

the funniest thing is that she signs milk for please. she says please as well, but she makes the milk sign. no clue how she associated the two, but it makes me laugh.

ncbelle · June 2010

I don't think we've done enough signing to count - we've got three that he uses but I wish we'd done more since we seem to be late on the talking!

I've always heard/read that it enhances language development and doesn't delay it.

JulyFiveBride · June 2010

DD only used a few signs like "milk" "more" and "all done" but her vocabulary is awesome. At 18 months she had over 100 words and was starting to string words together.

JulyFiveBride · June 2010

Harper'smom:
We did a dozen or so signs and now that she can say the words she still signs the words for emphasis. Like when she really wants MORE! we get the sign and the word. However once the words started coming quickly without signs we didn't continue to add new signs. I don't feel like we did enough signing to impact her speaking significantly but the signs we did do were very helpful in bridging the communication barrier.

My DD does this, too. "All done!" is one we still see a lot, lol.

Army_Wife_04 · June 2010

I worked in a daycare where we used the Baby Signs program in the infant and toddler rooms. When the teachers were given classes on how to use the signs, we were given this example to emphasize that signing helps rather than hinders language development: just because babies learn to crawl before they walk does not mean they will never walk, and the same goes for signing, it is a bridge of communication before spoken language is learned. I was able to see how well babies were able to communicate before they could verbalize and I think it prevented a lot of frustration for them. As PP said, you have to speak the word as you sign it so children get the connection. I am excited to start signing with my son soon!

momofolivia · June 2010

we had about 10 signs and used them from about 9 months on. My nephew didn't do signs and he talked earlier than DD. But once she got it, she got it really quickly.

JulieandBen · June 2010

My son was a late talker. I don't think it had anything to do with signing. He just talked later. I was a late talker as well. My mom jokes that once I started I never stopped.

cindy453 · June 2010

Early talking/walking doesn't really mean anything- it evens out around age two. And even early reading and things like that- it evens out around third grade. That's why many schools don't even do "gifted" testing until 3rd grade or later:)

Sally J · June 2010

My DD is in speech therapy and has been for about 8 months now. They taught her sign language first and of course said the word with the sign. The speech therapists told us since she understands far more than she can say, signing helps teach her that she can communicate her needs. We had introduced a handful of signs, but when we introduced even more signs, her verbal language began to pick up as well. It was like she realized that communicating with us was far more effective than whining/crying/being frustrated.

(My DD has several delays not related to introducing sign language.)

CalinsBride · June 2010

DS isn't quite talking yet (he's only 10 months old), but he has two words and one sign. The kids I nannied for signed and they did not talk later than usual. I know another little boy who only signed for two years and didn't talk.