Baby Sign Language

Soon after birth, infants are provided with the ability to understand language. However, they are not equipped to produce speech until after 12 to 24 months of age. Due to this, parents are left wondering what is going on inside their little heads. Teaching your child signs and gestures as well as spoken words ensures that they are quickly able to communicate and understand the world around them.

Research that has been conducted on this subject shows the benefits of signing to your pre-verbal child. The mid 1990’s revealed that contrary to popular belief signing does not deter or delay your child from speaking, and that it actually encourages earlier communication. Using sign language enables a child to be an active communicator at a much earlier age rather than a passive observer. Research conducted at the University of California has linked infant sign to a boost in IQ scores.

How to begin signing

All babies use their hands naturally in an attempt to communicate. Signs like waving bye-bye, clapping hands and shaking their heads in delight are some of the common signs. Unfortunately the number of signs that a child displays naturally is very limited.

Lets start at the beginning

When to begin

Just like babies begin speaking at different ages so do they begin signing at different ages too. You can begin signing with your baby at any time and you will notice your child taking an avid interest in your hand movements. However it is important to remember that the motor skills of a child, which are necessary for him/her to sign back only mature around 10 months of age.

What to begin with

Always begin with a few words that represent actions or objects that your baby is interested in. This will enable your child to focus on words that are of interest to him/her.

Use words whenever you sign

Maintain a strong connection between the sign and the word so that once your child learns to speak she/he will have already learned that words and signs are interchangeable.

Repeat the word and the sign

The key to success is repetition. The more you repeat the word and the sign, the sooner your baby will realize the connection between the two. This will encourage your child to sign back to you. You could try using the signs before, during and after a given activity.

The use of signs helps your child to identify one word out of seemingly endless streams of words. Signing with your baby clearly marks the words that you are teaching and helps your baby separate that one word from all the others. Not only this, you are also giving her/him valuable examples of the syntax of a language by offering and marking the same symbol as it occurs in many distinct positions in many different sentences representing one unvarying action or object.

Make it a part of your daily routine

Including signs in your daily routine helps your child pick them up sooner. You could pick a few of your baby’s favorite animals and then place pictures and toys of the animals in places that you frequent each day. These signs can be reinforced while saying nursery rhymes or singing songs.

How to get your baby’s attention

To get your baby’s attention you can use both nonverbal and verbal signs. You can ask your baby to look at you or you can tap, touch or rub your baby. To do this, you can also move an object of interest such as a toy towards your baby. Your child may grasp the sign even if you do not have her/his attention, but having her/his attention will ensure that she/he learns quickly.

Hold the object or point to it

As you begin it is important that your child has a visual picture of the sign and the word. For this you can use real object, a toy that represents it or a picture of the real thing. Try and include all visual forms of the object that the word represents.

Wait for response

You have already spent a great deal of time carrying on two sides of a conversation with your baby, it is now important to give your child enough time to respond. Begin by asking questions and waiting for at least 20 seconds. Use this time to look at your child attentively and expectantly before answering with the word and the sign. Doing this will give your child the clue that you are inviting him/her into the conversation.

Make signs on your child’s body

While following the above steps your child will have ample opportunity to see the signs that you teach her/him, but feeling a sign is equally important. Use your hands to make the movement on your child’s body. Keeping your child on your lap while making the sign will certainly help make it easier for you to make the sign correctly.

Help your baby to make the sign

Guide your baby’s hand, of course after ensuring that your baby enjoys your help. It is advisable to stop if your child shows displeasure.

Ask your baby to display the sign

Encourage your baby to sign by asking her/him to show you his/her hands, and gently tapping her/his hands while at it. You could play some games wherein you place the toy further away from the child and ask your baby to make the sign. Help your baby by making the sign if she has not been able to make it or gets frustrated.

Use the correct sign at all times

Babies are not able to reproduce the sign perfectly in a short time. In this case you should continue to use the same sign, as changing the sign to match your child’s will only make the child confused as to what the correct sign is.

Using one hand to sign
It is important to remember that your baby is perceptive and knows when you are using a single hand to make a sign that generally requires two. Thus, the best time to teach your child signs is during that time of the day when you have free time.

Share books with your infant

Select books that have your baby’s favorite objects and offer her/him the sign whenever you say the word for the object. Look at your baby and notice her/his eyes to see what she is attracted to in the book. After you have done that comment on the image and offer the sign for the image. Give her/him enough time to respond.

Recognize and respond to your child’s signs

Reward your child whenever she/he asks for something. In case you are unable to give her/him what she wants then make sure that you reward her/him in some other way, making it clear to her/him that you understand what he/she is asking for. Even when the child makes an attempt to sign, reward her/him for their attempts.

Be patient and offer praise

It is important to remember that your child will learn more quickly if he/she enjoys the process and is consistently rewarded for every attempt. Motivation arises from the fun generated when signing together. How many signs your baby makes and how he/she makes them is not the question, the question here is let your baby laugh, play, smile and sign.

Tips

• Share your child’s knowledge about signs with caregivers and family members.
• Create a few of your own signs.
• Start with simple words and signs.
• Have patience.
• Follow the lead your child gives you.
• Praise your child.