Sign Language

reneamac313 · December 2014

I've read a lot about teaching your child sign language and the benefits there are to communication. I've seen a few parents as well that have taught their kids some basic signs and it seems to be a positive overall. I'm wondering if there is anyone here that has effectively used it with their child/ren and what are some resources and best practices that you have come across?

schnitz9 · December 2014

I'm gonna follow this one. They are going to be teaching this to my little guy in DC and I want to know how helpful it is. They also will be doing baby yoga. Anyone familiar with that?

racheltherose · December 2014

My aunt taught my cousin baby sign language, and it was SO helpful to have some form of communication between him and the adults. It made everyone so much less frustrated before he was actually talking. Luckily she knew ASL before she had him, so she knew the resources she needed to teach him.

Irishcurls · December 2014

I instinctively sign "more" when I'm talking to almost anyone's baby. The kids I nannied for used a few signs and it just stuck. That one is so easy too. I think we may do some basics; "more" "all done" "milk."

krispy83 · December 2014

Yes! We taught DS some baby sign language. DH is an ASL teacher so he really wanted to do this.

We got the book Baby Sign Language Basics (https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Sign-Language-Basics-Communication/dp/1401921590/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417719480&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+sign+language+basics) - you don't necessarily have to use a book though, there are lots of resources available online. The idea is to use simplified versions of the ASL signs because babies don't have the dexterity for a lot of ASL signs.

We picked 6 signs to start with and used them EVERY time we said the corresponding word. We started using them around 5 months but it was quite a while before he started signing them back, which is normal.

The ability to communicate develops earlier than their ability to actually form words, which is why babies are often able to produce signs well before they can talk. Once DS started talking, he mostly stopped signing, but it was great for the stretch where he knew what he wanted but just couldn't say it. We'll be teaching DD as well.

reneamac313 · December 2014

I have to say I do have more interest in this because of a little concern for baby girl's hearing. When I was born I couldn't hear correctly at all and it took a few years for that to get worked out. I am a little concerned that I may pass that on to her and I want to go into it prepared just in case.

wirtlehm · December 2014

DH & I babysat a friends child for a brief period of time a few years ago while my sister was living with us. She introduced us all to some sign language and it was super helpful since Eli was still so young... Now you have me looking up more basic signs to use w this baby! Excited to go home and show DH!

ConstanceGoodspeed · December 2014

We started at 6 months when he started solid foods. He learned more, all done, milk, a few animals, and I forget what else. Now, at 22 months, he speaks just fine but occasionally signs and speaks more and all done.

It was SO essential to feeding him solids, but also helped in daily life (if he wanted to stay on the swings longer at the park he could sign more, if he got tired at a friend's house he would sign all done, etc). It cuts back on crying, tantrums, and frustration.

HailsMom · December 2014

We taught DD signs - More, Milk, Thank You, Up, and Bath were the ones she used most often. Started with one word about 4-5 months and worked on adding them as she started using them. I also made a little set of flash cards to keep in her diaper bag and another set for daycare - so that if she was with someone else and trying to use a sign - they would know what she was trying to say.

WanderingA · December 2014

We also use the basic signs with Adeline (16 months):

Eat
More
All done
Milk
Please
Thank you

During my moms group today we were talking about signs and 4 out of the 6 toddlers used them, most commonly the sign for "more". It really helps with figuring out what they want and cuts back on frustration and tantrums. She's been using signs since about 7 months, and we first started teaching them to her around 6 months.

WanderingA · December 2014

@dorothygale01 - I haven't done any research on it, but in my personal experience, not at all. We always say the word that accompanies the sign with Adeline and she does the same. So while she is signing "more" she is also saying it. She also has a much bigger vocabulary than most 16-month-olds. Toddler language can be difficult to decipher so I found that it's really helpful when we're around family who don't understand what she's saying but know what her signs mean.

AshleySparkle720 · December 2014

I'm posting before reading previous comments, but YES. Sign language is SO extremely helpful! Learning the basics is super easy and it gives LO a way to communicate with you that normally wouldn't happen. Especially mealtime signs like more, all done, thirsty, hungry, milk, water, please, thank you. When I was in an infant room at a day care I always taught the infants those signs as well as diapering signs and play time signs.

I also would always say the words out loud so they would associate the word with the sign. Most of the infants would end up saying the word with the sign when they got to that point.

ETA: clarify

racheltherose · December 2014

@dorothygale01 Like the PP said, my cousin I felt was speaking much faster than a child that may not have learned ASL. The signs were always used with the word being said verbally on the parent's end, so that helped a lot especially with learning the sign. They would see him doing it and say "Oh, more?" and do the sign with their hands. That way he was associating it with the sign and the word

t8keepr03 · December 2014

Daycare has taught DD some basic signs. She knows more, milk, all done, please and thank you. Daycare told us the signs too so we knew what she was trying to tell us.

krispy83 · December 2014

@dorothygale01 - I was concerned about that but DS is incredibly verbal. Granted, this could just be a coincidence, but the kids I've known who have learned signs have not been delayed in speech at all. They've been in the normal window for their age in terms of language or even a bit advanced.

HailsMom · December 2014

Other ladies have beaten me to the punch but @dorothygale01 (still wanna type Sugha!), but DD vocabulary and speech skills still impress her pedi at every appointment. She talks a whole lot better than her cousin who is 6 months older than her.

flyster · December 2014

Hows does sign language work if baby is in daycare? If daycare doesn't do the signs, is it worth trying to do them at home? Will baby get frustrated if the daycare doesn't understand the signs?

HailsMom · December 2014

It works better if DC will also use the signs, but at the very least, if you explain to them what signs the baby knows - they should be able to understand what he or she is trying to say.

reneamac313 · December 2014

@willvilljill‌ that is great! Thank you, and everyone else, for all the wonderful information! I think that covered questions I didn't even know that I had.

Beth.1212 · December 2014

I tried with DS, but he never really took to it. He basically started signing back to me at the same time as he started using the verbal words for the same thing. Every kid is different, though, so I plan to try signing again with the new baby on the way.

krispy83 · December 2014

@flyster talk to your daycare. When I mentioned to our provider that we were teaching signs, she asked what we were teaching and even started using them with the kids. I think the idea of reducing frustration over communication skills is pretty appealing to anyone caring for a group of little kids!

But even if they don't use signs at daycare, I think it's still worth it to teach them at home. And, as a PP mentioned, if they can at least recognize them, they'll understand what the baby is saying.

dreemkin84 · December 2014

So many good comments here but just wanted to add that Norah has a speech delay and is seeing a speech pathologist. We taught her a few basic signs before we met with Early Intervention and they were excited to see her using them. Expressive language is important along with verbal language.

We have a Baby Einstein DVD. I think it's called "my first signs". It is nice for children and parents to learn these basic baby signs.

michelle142 · December 2014

My sons DC center actually started teaching signing at 6 months. It's seriously amazing how quickly they catch on. By 10 months he was consistently using signs for "more", "milk", "all done", "please" and "thank you".

It's so helpful in terms of communication before they can speak verbally. I can't wait for DD to learn. DS still uses some of the signs along with his words (at 3 years old), I don't even think he realizes he's doing it.

I don't have any resources other than the sheet that DC provided, but I think baby signing is a wonderful idea.

topolina1215 · December 2014

Just make sure daycare tells you they're teaching your child signs

For a few weeks, I had no idea DD was making the sign for "all done" at dinner - I thought she was just making jazz hands!

Want a personalized experience?

Sign Language

Re: Sign Language

Choose Another Board

Search Boards