Baby Sign Language
Baby sign language is becoming a more popular way to communicate with your babies for many reasons. A baby’s eye-hand coordination develops before their speech skills and most babies can learn signs within a few months. An ideal time to begin is when your baby is around nine to twelve months old. An older baby can learn too—starting early just gives you more time with a communicating baby.
How do you begin? Pick a couple words that you want to start with. Often, parents choose words that can let the baby tell what they want (mom, dad, hungry, thirsty, etc.). Every time you do anything related to that word, say the word and do the sign. Repeat it whenever your baby has a chance to associate the sign with its meaning. Most babies will pick up the signs within a few months. Remember to be patient as your baby learns the signs—any new concept will take some time!
Sometimes your baby will give you a sign. If your baby always makes the same gesture when he or she doesn’t want any more food, you can try using the same gesture when you don’t want your baby to do something. Accompanying the sign with “no” and removing the baby from the unwanted toy/situation/etc. will help reinforce it.
Choose easy signs that you, your baby, and any other caregivers can remember. Need some ideas? Born2Sign recommends trying spreading your fingers apart and tapping your thumb against your chin for “Mommy” or extending your fingers and bringing the tips of all your fingers together on each hand and then tapping the fingertips of your two hands together for “more.”
Technorati Tags: Babies, baby sign language, caregivers, eye hand coordination, mommy, Parents, speech skills, unwanted toy
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment