How to Teach Baby Signs

Why sign with your baby? Babies are capable of understanding words long before they can say them. Starting around 9-12 months, many babies begin getting very frustrated with not being able to express themselves, leading right into the terrible twos. Imagine your baby being able to tell you exactly what she needs, wants or is thinking? Teaching your baby sign language can lead to some wonderful bonding in your family and give your child a jumpstart on their communication skills. Babies who learn signs usually learn to talk sooner and have a bigger vocabulary than their peers who don’t sign. And babies who sign have FAR less tantrums.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Getting Started.
   You can start as early as you like, but the earlier you start, the longer you are going to have to wait to see your baby sign back. To determine when your baby is most ready to start signing is if your baby is able to point or shake head yes/no. Some babies have signed as young as 6 months, but I think the majority of babies aren’t able to sign until they are 9 months or older. All babies are unique and just like crawling, some babies are more eager and start earlier, and some are not so interested and take longer.
2. Routine and Repetition.
   Pick some basic signs and start incorporating them into your everyday routine. Do them EVERY time they apply and be consistent. Your baby needs lots of repetition to learn and understand what you are doing and make the connection.
   Some easy signs to start off with are Food/hungry…wich is putting your fingertips to your mouth. “More” which is tapping your palm with your finger. “Drink” which is thumb to mouth and tilt up. “Shhh” for quiet, or to let baby know that someone is sleeping…which is a natural one…you put your finger to your mouth and say “shhh”.
3. Learning Resource.
   Choose a book to use a reference for learning all the various signs. The book “Baby Signs” How to talk with your baby before your baby can talk, by Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn is a great resource with a lot of info about baby sign language, the research behind it, case studies, and illustrations. You could also get a baby signing board book. Just look on www.amazon.com and you should be able to find an illustrated board book you can read with your baby to help you both learn the baby signs together.
4. Make it a family affair.
   Get everyone involved; older siblings can be the best teachers when it comes to teaching the baby signs. It can also help your older children and baby to bond.
5. Show Baby How.
   To help your baby learn to do the sign; you can manipulate his hands to show him how. Example, for “food” you can take your baby’s hand and move it to his mouth while you repeat the word a couple of times like, “Food. You want food? Ethan wants to eat food? Let’s get you some food!” Repeating the word and the action will help your baby associate the word and the meaning with the action.
6. Positive Reinforcement.
   It may seem as if your baby isn’t paying attention at first, but many parents claim that after a few weeks, they’ll notice their baby signing “food” or “drink” and aren’t sure what they are doing at first only to proudly realize their child is making their first sign. As soon as baby starts making their first signs, respond right away! Acknowledge them to reinforce the behavior and say the word they are signing and then get them a drink or food (or whatever applies to the sign they are doing). When you baby signs, react excitedly and let them know how wonderful you think she is.
7. Make it fun.
   Babies learn by what they see, not what they are told. So do the signs as you go about your daily routine, rather than sit down and have a lesson with flashcards, trying to teach many signs at once. Also, be happy when you are signing, smile and use an enthusiastic voice. Make it fun and interesting.
8. Be patient.
   It can take weeks or months before your baby signs back. But it will be worth the effort once you baby gets it. When a baby can sign, you get a jump-start on the communication in your relationship with your baby and can avoid many frustrations and tantrums. Rather than having your baby crying as you attempt to figure out what the problem is, while they begin crying louder and harder, your baby can tap his diaper and let your know he needs to be changed. Your baby will also be able to talk to you about what he is experiencing by telling you about the kitty he sees or pointing out all the flowers she notices around the house…on her bib, on her shirt, on the blanket, and in the garden.
9. Your baby might not do the sign perfectly at first, but keep doing it the right way and your child will eventually get it.
   Many people don’t realize how much their babies actually notice or are thinking about. Baby signs allows your baby to communicate those thoughts with you and share their experience of the world with you. How Precious!