Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs
When I was pregnant and constantly contemplating and researching life with baby, I heard and read a lot about teaching babies sign language to help them communicate before their verbal language skills are really strong. And I thought it sounded great! What could be better than lessening the frustration of a mini who is trying to tell you something, but doesn’t have the words yet to express a specific thought?
Then, after I had Sophia and had decided I wanted to give it a shot, I began hearing about baby signing even more. (You know something is a big deal when you hear it on NPR during your morning commute!) It was almost like affirmation for me. But after having various converations with other mothers on this topic, I found that some people were opposed due to the fact that they had heard teaching your baby to sign could delay her speech. Some argued, why would babies need to speak if they could just do the sign for what they wanted?
On the contrary! After researching this phenomenon pretty extensibly (and believe me, there is a TON of info out there on this subject, and lots of opinions), I’ve found that studies have shown improved literacy and communication skills and a rich spoken vocabulary as a result of teaching your baby how to sign, usually beginning at around 7 or 8 months old (when most babies have mastered the skill of waving bye-bye).
We got this SIGN with your BABY book, DVD and reference guide by Dr. Joseph Garcia to start out, and it’s been really helpful. We leave the handy laminated reference guide out on the coffee table in case we want to quickly figure out how to do a common sign, instead of having to watch the DVD each time. We’re starting really slowly, trying to master a few easy signs before we move onto anything more complicated than “more,” “up,” “food,” “milk” and “water.”
Sophia just thinks it’s hilarious, at this point. She laughs as I wave my hands together back and forth asking if she wants “more” dinner. But I’ve been told again and again that it’s sinking in and not to give up. I am really excited for the day that she signs back to me, but at this point, seeing a little bit of recognition in her eyes when I point up when asking if she wants out of her high chair and she raises her arms in the air to be picked up is enough to keep me going. It’s just amazing.
Anyone out there have any good signing stories with your babies or other words that are really easy for them to learn in the beginning?
I started teaching my son sign language at 9 months. My mom and husband thought I was crazy and asked me not to tell anyone what I was doing!
I started with a book, but then read about these great DVDs, Signing Time (http://www.signingtime.com/), which both my son and I seemed to really enjoy, and they were admittedly much easier than the book! My son quickly picked up “more” and “milk” and even put them together. The first time my husband and mom saw my son sign “more milk” they were believers.
Fast forward to his 2nd birthday, and my son had an amazing vocabulary and was able to string up to 10 words together in a coherent sentence. His vocabulary was so robust, he was asked to participate in an infant language study at a local university.
Now, at 27 months, anyone can have a complete conversation with my son and he will reply as if he’s a little adult. It’s a real panic, and usually catches people off guard. But his language skills blow away those of his peers and I am convinced it is because of the signing.
My son still likes to watch the Signing Time DVDs, and I plan on teaching my 3-month old sign language when he’s older.