A Brilliant Idea
A few years ago, I first heard about the concept of teaching a baby sign language. I did not do this with my own children, but found the idea very appealing. It makes sense to provide the baby with a way to communicate, before they have the ability to tell us with words what they want and need. It will reduce the frustration level for both the child and the parent when the child wants or needs something and is unable to tell us what.
So a few years ago, I heard of this idea to teach babies sign language. Being a mother of six children, I know that babies comprehend things much sooner than they are able to communicate it back to us. Most folks assume that babies do not understand what we say, simply because they can not speak or communicate directly with us in words. But baby signing has proven what I knew to be true: babies do understand what we say to them and they want to communicate. Baby signs teaches them how.
Bi-Lingual Baby
Even though I knew the idea was a good one, other than a few internet friends who had reportedly done this, I did not know of anyone in my offline circle of friends who had successfully taught their baby sign language…. until this week. My friend Kathy, along with her son and daughter-in-law, has taught her 2 year old grandson, Josiah, to communicate with sign language. Josiah and his parents were in a very serious car accident about 6 weeks ago (check here for current updates on Jennifer & the family); and I’ve been helping out by watching Josiah when needed. So I got to see first-hand baby sign language in action. It’s amazing!
At two, Josiah is able to talk some, but for many things, he still does the sign while also speaking. This child is being raised as bi-lingual! Signing is a language, so teaching your child to sign is giving them the gift of being bi-lingual.
My Fascination with Sign Language & a Personal Need
When I was in Jr High, a new girl came to our school and we became friends. I learned that both of her parents were deaf. I was able to go to their home and see their TTY machine and their lighting setup so that when the doorbell rang, the light flickered. Of course my friend was fluent in sign language and to this day it fascinates me to watch those who sign.
But my current fascination is a bit more personal, as I am deaf in one ear. My ability to hear is greatly diminished and while I can hear most sounds, I can not tell where they are coming from, and when talking with someone, I read lips quite a bit, due to my not understanding all that is said. There are certain tones and pitches I can not hear. Learning sign language is one of my immediate goals.
Grandbabies and Older Children
I have one grandbaby now, Lilly; with another grandbaby due in April 2009. I will be getting Baby Signs to give as a gift for my grandbabies, but also to have here to start teaching myself, and my three children still at home. While my own children are no longer babies, sign language is the same no matter the age. It doesn’t hurt at all to start at the most basic of levels to start our journey to learn sign language.
Still Not Convinced Baby Signing Works
Watch this 
Order Baby Signs for yourself. It’s only $29.97 and well worth that tiny investment into your baby’s future. Let me know how it works for you! I will be posting my own videos soon. 
I found signing greatly reduced the frustration level at our house. Many times the little ones wanted or needed something they didn’t have the verbal words for and signing gave them a way to express themselves. But to be totally honest, it taught me to look at my children when communicating and that has improved my personal communication skills as well!
“But to be totally honest, it taught me to look at my children when communicating and that has improved my personal communication skills as well!”
I love that Peggy! I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right, it would teach you to look at your children when speaking with them. It’s amazing how such a simple thing can make such a big impact.
I minored in ASL in college so that I’d be well prepared to teach my children baby signs. (Also because I wanted to become an interpreter, but I’ve scrapped that idea since.) But my little one was talking at 4 1/2 months, and using simple sentences by 5 months, so I never did use the signs!
That’s amazing Rachel! Two of my girls were talking in full sentences by 10 months; but 5 months is truly amazing!
I find baby signing intriguing. I have a friend who taught it to her daughters and she thought that it delayed their speech. She thought that if she were to do it all over again, she wouldn’t do it. Do you know of anyone with a similar situation? I have wanted to learn sign language for a really long time. I will have to check at the local vocational school to see if they will be offering a course this next semester!
We started signing with our son at 5-6 months. He signed back his first sign, milk (of course) when he was about 9 mo, but he could understand our signs way before he could sign back. When he wanted out of his high chair or walker he would yell, and we would sign “out?” or “up?” and he would immediately quiet down. By 1 year old, at 15 months, about 60 signs, and then we stopped counting. He is 18 months now and very verbal as well as signs a lot. He picks up new signs almost every day it seems. He can read letters and numbers and “reads” books to us (points out things, reads letters, and makes the signs). He can also identify all of the signed alphabet . See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJlX32R_AHA
Anyway, so teaching your baby sign does NOT delay speech. It only enhances communication. Just like crawling does not delay walking – it only makes the child desire to move more. If anything, signing speeds up speech and communication. My son does not throw tantrums or have breakdowns. He’s so well-mannered and I credit sign language with a lot of his easy temperament. Anyway…hope this response isn’t too long. It’s a subject I’m passionate about. I will also be starting baby sign workshops next year! Just finished up a semester of ASL.