Baby sign language basics

Imagine the frustration of living in a world where no one could understand what you were saying. No matter how hard you tired, you were unable to form coherent words, syllables or sounds. That is the world that babies and toddlers live in every day.

Have you ever wondered what your baby is thinking or what he wants to eat? Wouldn’t it be nice to know if she’s crying because she’s because she is tired, hungry, or needs to have her diaper changed? Believe it or not, there is a way to effectively communicate with your baby or toddler long before he develops the verbal and motor skills he needs to talk. By teaching your child some basic sign language, you can greatly diminish the frustration of trying to figure out what your baby needs and at the same time give him a communication skill that can be built on as he gets older.

It has been proven that babies who can’t even sit up can learn very basic sign language motions and toddlers as young as 18 months can master a vocabulary of up to 100 words. Teaching him sign language isn’t as hard as you may think. Have you ever sung your baby’s favorite song and done hand motions? When your baby does the hand motions with you he is in essence doing sign language.

Babies and toddlers often use signs as a natural part of everyday communication. Many babies know how to wave “bye-bye” or how to shake their head no. Teaching them sign language isn’t any different than these simple gestures. In fact, it is much easier for small children to learn sign language then it is for adults.

Learning American Sign Language (ASL) with your baby or toddler is a great way to spend time with him and to help him develop communication skills. You should start with the basics and expand your child’s vocabulary as his comprehension and motor skills improve. There are many online resources available, as well as programs you can purchase or even TV programs you can watch to help you learn sign language.

Among the best is a video by Baby First TV called I Can Sign . This video is for babies through three year olds and is available on their website, Babyfirsttv.com .

The Baby Signs Program consists of classes taught by a certified instructor in which you and your baby learn to use simple, easy-to-do gestures for communicating with each other. Visit their website at Babysigns.com for a complete list of locations and instructors in your area.

PBS offers two programs, “Signing Time” and “Baby Signing Time,” which provide an easy way for you to learn American Sign Language (ASL). These programs teach sign language through interactive songs and instructional segments. You can check your local listings or visit the PBS website at Pbs.org for a list of stations where these programs are aired.

You don’t have to know American Sign Language (ASL) yourself in order to teach it to your child. You can learn the signs and motions as you go. Basic signs are easy to learn and remember because they closely mimic things most people do to describe an action already. The sign for “drink” is made by forming your right hand into the letter ‘c’ then moving the hand to your mouth in a short arc like you are drinking something.

Once you make the decision to teach your child American Sign Language, you will be amazed at how easily you and your child will learn to sign and how quickly your communication level will increase.