Why Sign With Your Baby

Writen by Genesis Davies

Baby sign language came into public view in the movie, Meet the Fockers. It is gradually gaining popularity as more and more families have started giving it a chance. With the advent of videos and books that teach you how to use signs, it is increasingly easy to pick up sign language and teach it to your little ones.

Why would you use sign language with babies? If you want a happier baby, give him a way to communicate his needs and wants. Parents who have tried signing are impressed at how much calmer and happier their children are. Many tantrums and upsets in small children is caused by frustration, usually because they can´t tell you what they need. Obviously, even if you understand them, it doesn´t mean you´ll be handing over bowls of candy! But it does help if you can communicate openly with your toddler and he with you.

Sign language communication also enforces the bond between mother and child. He can now tell you what is going on in his mind. Have you ever wondered what your busy little boy is thinking when he suddenly pauses in his mud-digging to stare off into space? With sign language, he can tell you that he was wishing his papa were here to help.

Despite initial fears that signs would cause a delay in speech development, studies have shown just the opposite! Babies who sign turn into early talkers in many cases and automatically drop signed words from their vocabulary once they use it in speech. Also, if you are raising a bi-lingual child, sign language can help fuse the two languages in her mind. Using the same sign for two words helps her understand that both words mean the same thing.

When you decide to start teaching sign language to your baby, you need to be consistent. Use the sign every time you say the word. You will probably want to start with words that are most pertinent to your child and his interests. Since 8 months (although it´s fine to start later) is the suggested age to begin sign language, most parents focus on basic needs – "hungry", "thirsty", and "more". But perhaps your baby would be more interested in words for his obsessions, "dog", "light" or "train". Take your lead from your child.

Babies can take up to 6 weeks before they start to use a sign, but once they understand the concept, get ready with your signing dictionary! Parents report phases of ravenous learning when children demand dozens of new words every day and their poor parents are hard-pressed to keep up!

Any way you look at it, baby signing has to be good. It allows our children to be just a bit more independent and able to communicate and lets us bond with them. How can you go wrong with that?

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