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Infant Sign Language
Infant Sign Language
 Speaking
requires motor skills that babies only begin to master at about
12 months. Studies have shown that while babies may lack the motor
skills, they do have the ability to understand and use language
well before they can speak. With the right guidance they can say
what they need to with their hands. Until recently sign language
has only been used with the hearing impaired but we have found that
signing is also an effective way to communicate with hearing babies.
A baby may not want to eat, or may want to play
outside instead of staying indoors. How does your baby let you know
that these things are on his mind? Teaching him sign language enables
him to communicate simple gestures and it enables you to respond
more readily to his needs.
Teaching a hearing baby to sign is a simple and
natural process. Think of it as an extension of natural baby gestures.
Without being taught, a baby will point at something he is interested
in or raise his arms to be picked up. Teaching a baby sign language
capitalizes on that natural tendency. How is it accomplished? Parents
begin with one sign, the sign for “more,” always speaking
as you sign. Remember that your ultimate goal is verbal language
development so you must always say the word as you sign. Then you
follow with the signs for “eat” and “milk.”
These do not have to be formal signs, many times each family has
their own, unique signs for words. Just make sure you always use
the same sign for a particular “thing.”
With some time and patience you can be effectively
communicating with your baby in no time!
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