Baby Sign Language?

Jessica - posted on 10/04/2009

Emily, just curious, how do you teach the babies at your daycare? Do you get the parents to reinforce it at home?

Emily - posted on 10/04/2009

I work at a day care where we teach the babies how to sign and I have done this with my own son. He started signing more at 7 1/2 months. He now signs please, more, all done, milk, thank you. He is 13 months and says a lot of words and still signs as well. As for the babies at the day care it helps them to communicate with us on what exactly it is they want without them getting upset:) Best of Luck!

Tosha - posted on 10/03/2009

I have a little with Ajay, but I didn't get as into it as I planned. He does "More" when he's hungry but that is about it (well bye bye.. but most kids do that). I am trying to get him to do the "all done" thing instead of crying in his seat, but he only does it once in a while.

Tips? Start slow and use what words you want her to use as often as possible.

Lilly - posted on 10/03/2009

i have done baby sign with all three of my children. The first was signing and talking very early. The second refused until he was 13 months, but understood the basic signs, and responded to them. When he was13 months he signed "milk" and it took off from there. It helped him a lot because his verbal language has been a little bit behind. I always sign AND talk the word. My youngest just turned one, and she signs "milk," " all done," "more," "please," and "potty," sometimes. She is consistent, but if I remind her to use it, then she does. I really think this helps them communicate, and cuts out on a lot of the fits and frustration for both parent and child. Good luck, oh and check out this website: sign2me.com lots of resources there!

Jessica - posted on 10/02/2009

Thank you for the suggestion of the book, I have seen it at the book store before, but I will definitely get it now.

Chelsea - posted on 10/02/2009

Jessica I use baby sign with my daughter and ASL with my hearing preschoolers (I am a preschool teacher). Sign language actually excelerates language development because it gives children more of a vocabulary to draw from. Instead of calling all things furry and little cats like a lot of very young children they know the difference through sign between a dog, cat, bunny etc. In this way they gain more language earlier and at a faster rate. As you have already pointed out it also is a great tool to ease frustration through communication. I would also suggest reading the book "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" It has great tools and tips to ease toddler frustration although it does not talk about sign.

Jessica - posted on 10/01/2009

Thanks fro the encouragement. I just started today with her, and so far Its going well. Shes already trying to do the sign for more , but instead of putting her finger tips together shes just putting both her hands together. I think thats a good sign that shes getting it. I hope it works for the reason of easing frustration, and better communication for her. I agree that it will not slow down her speech development. Thanks a gain.

Shannon - posted on 10/01/2009

I have been working on it with my son, so far he dosen't sign a whole lot, somethings like milk, all done, play...., but he dose understand it all.

The trick is to keep up with it, you can't just sign water for example when the tap is running, you have to do it when you see a puddle, when its raining, when they are in the tub, always. Just consistency all day long, at first it seems monotanous, but they all of a sudden it becomes second nature, and you don't even realize your doing it.

I really enjoy it and fin that it eases a lot of his frustrtion throughout a day. I have heard that some people believe it will slow their speech development but from what I have read that has been rpoven wrong.

Enjoy it and have fun learning and teaching it, you will be so thrilled the first time you see their little hands tryinh to sign something!