How to Teach a Baby Sign Language

When you teach a baby sign language, you give her an effective way to communicate before she can speak, open the way for a stronger parent-child bond and give her an intellectual headstart, too. Most babies take to sign language quickly. Many parents find teaching sign language to a baby is no harder than teaching spoken words.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A sign language dictionary

1. Learn to sign. If you don't know sign language, start learning some signs a baby would need like "mom," "bottle" or "outside." Babies learn fast, so you'll need to stay a few steps ahead of your little one. Try to keep all teaching adults on the same page or your baby could learn a sign from one person that no one else understands. You can teach older siblings to sign, too, so they have a way to interact with the new baby.

2. Choose a few basic words to start with. If you start signing for everything, you may tend to sign too fast for your baby to realize you're trying to communicate. Pick just a few essentials like "hungry," "juice" or "help." It's easier to start with physical objects because you can show the baby what the sign means.

3. Make sign language part of everyday interaction, starting with the signs you chose to teach first. When you give your baby some juice, make the sign for juice. When baby needs changing, make the sign for bathroom, then take him to the bathroom. Make eye contact so your baby sees that you want to tell him something. Do this consistently and your little one will quickly make the connection between signs and things or actions.

4. Add new signs quickly. After 2 or 3 weeks, your baby will probably start signing back to you. Even if she doesn't, it's likely she understands your signs. At this point, start adding as many new signs as you want. Continue with visible things like "shoes" or "dog," but also add more abstract signs like "up" or "give me."

5. Use picture books to teach your baby sign language. The big, colorful pictures in children's books make it easier to teach signs like "park" or "fire fighter" and other things that are hard to show at home.

6. Make sign language a part of play time. Teaching a baby sign language for feelings can help ease the frustration that causes tantrums and aggression. This is particularly true for difficult emotions like "sad," "angry" and "scared." Playtime is good for "pretending" these emotions without actually having to experience them. Use facial expressions and body language when you sign. You can incorporate picture books into this by signing the emotion a character is feeling or showing your sympathy for the characters.

Tips & Warnings

• Anything that fascinates your baby, be it mirrors, water or the family pet, is good to use for teaching first signs.
• When you choose which signs to teach, think of signs your baby can use to communicate problems, such as "hungry," "cold" and "hurt."
• Many babies alter signs or make up their own, so stay on the look out for any new gestures or "sign babble" your baby might make.

Resources

• Find activities for teaching a baby sign language.
• Get baby signing videos at Signing Time.
• Life Print offers a list of 100 first signs and lessons for adults.

[Gardengates]

on 8/24/2008 I wish I'd learned when I was young. It's a good idea and great exercise for the adult and baby's brain, too.