baby sign language

[PotatoFace]

i know a couple of people here have done this.

how early do you start signing?

what books should i get?

thanks.

[angeles]

I don't know much about it, but whenever we (firefighter station) were collecting for a local children's charity in our area, we met a couple that taught their twin daughters how to sign. It was amazing to watch. I know that if I ever have another child, I want to at least try to do it. I know it's because the motor activity of the brain is more well developed than the speech and language part of the brain at that time. But it was so cute!

xo, angeles

[katz]

i looked on amazon for some books and found these.
Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071387765/qid=1127926748/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-9062139-5440945?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
Baby Sign Language Basics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1401902901/qid=1127926748/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-9062139-5440945?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
SIGN with your BABY Complete Learning Kit: (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932354018/qid=1127926748/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-9062139-5440945?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
Sign With Your Baby: How to Communicate With Infants Before They Can Speak (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0966836774/qid=1127926748/sr=8-5/ref=pd_bbs_5/102-9062139-5440945?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
Signing Smart with Babies and Toddlers : A Parent's Strategy and Activity Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312337035/qid=1127926748/sr=8-14/ref=pd_bbs_14/102-9062139-5440945?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

I've been very interested in learning about this myself for when I have a baby. The best thing I've heard about it is that it helps aleviate fustration on both the child and parent sides for recieving needs. I also think that it's a great second language for anyone to have, as you never know what life may bring you.

[katz]

some links

http://www.kindersigns.com/

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/babies/signing.html

http://theparentsite.com/parenting/signbaby.asp


the berkeley page discusses a bit of the difference between ASL and "baby signs", so if you are researching books etc, this is probably a distinction you would want to make. there are also several more links within that page pointing to other discussions etc.


ASL vs. baby sign

I'm interested in teaching my baby sign language, and have looked through the Acredolo book (as well as the on line advice here) about the subject. However, I wonder why teach a baby made-up signs when ASL is a real language and might be useful in the future. Is there any reason? Does anyone have experience teaching ASL to their baby? What is the best ASL book/dictionary for me to use with a seven-month-old baby? Thanks. Carolyn This reply is from my sister, who has 4 year old twins, one of whom is deaf. "I have a deaf son who is now 4 and a half. We began teaching him ASL at age 6.5 months when it was confirmed that he was deaf. He and his twin sister (hearing) are now fluent (for 4 year olds). I cannot think of a reason why you would want to teach your baby made-up signs rather than ASL. Unless the made-up signs are easier, which I can't really imagine, because as you stated ASL is a complete language. For example, it is very easy to sign "the car is being driven" in ASL. It only requires one hand-shape and one movement. Note there are some geographic differences even with ASL (e.g., the sign for "cracker" is different in different parts of the U.S.). I would recommend getting a catalogue from Gallaudet University's bookstore at 800 Florida Avenue, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 for resources (video tapes, books). There are other companies such as Harris Communications, which you can probably find on the internet. I applaud your initiative! Babies can learn to sign much more readily than they can learn to speak. Much frustration between parent and child is alleviated when there is early communication." Fran

[katz]

How will you know when your baby is ready to begin signing? There are some things you can look for to determine if your baby has enough long term memory and the motor skills to reproduce the sign. Of course, you are not looking for perfection. But your baby has to be able to at least approximate the sign so you can identify it. In general, most babies are ready at around 7 months. But remember, all babies are different. Some babies aren’t ready until 9 or 10 months.
How to know if your baby is ready to sign…
http://theparentsite.com/imagesnew/dotpur.gifIf your baby can wave “bye-bye”
http://theparentsite.com/imagesnew/dotpur.gifIf he can hold onto a rattle
http://theparentsite.com/imagesnew/dotpur.gifIf your baby drops something and then looks to see where it went

[stupidANDcontagious]

I did a mix of Babysign and ASL with my son. To this day he still signs please and thank you (out of habit probably), and if we are somewhere especially loud or overwhelming he will sign to me. Signing helped him develop his speech immensely. He could sign for certain things before he could say them and this curbed frustration and tantrums too.