What do you think about the fact that some babies have been known to use sign language as early as six weeks old? Yes, it has been shown that babies in non-hearing households have actually done this. Although it is not typical, it has happened.
Babies normally are good candidates for sign language around the age of six months. They can be taught to communicate with you through using their hands. You can improve on this by starting to sign as early as possible. Simple signing such as shaking your head for no is a basic place to start.
Using the conventional sign language or making up your own version, start teaching your baby when he starts paying attention to things going on around him. Instead of crying when something is bothering him, he may just be able to tell you what it is by signing. Children normally do not learn to talk until they are at least a year old. Some are even later than this.
This can be a special time between you and your baby. Learning to sign together is great fun and can create a bond with your child. Signing for bye-bye, mom, dad, sleep, and eat are the basics. When you use a sign for the word you are teaching him, make sure you say the word when you sign it.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to signing with your child. The main thing is to always make sure you use the same sign for the same word. Repetition is the greatest learning tool for people of all ages. Do not limit this to an at-home activity, use it everywhere you and your child go.
There will be no other feeling like the first time your baby signs to you. Not only will you be the proudest parent around, but you will be so thrilled at being able to communicate with your baby without talking.
It is surprising that it has taken this long for this method of communicating to be recognized. This has been a way of mother animals communicating with their young for ages. They are not able to do it as we can, using our hands, but they do it with their actions.
One of the important things to remember when you start teaching your baby to sign is do not try too much too soon. At six months of age, their world mainly revolves around eating and sleeping with a little play time thrown in. The basics are all they need to know at this time. It will develop into more later.
If you are unsure of how to start teaching your baby, there are a lot of good videos around that will help to get you started. Most of these teach the American sign language because it is a method that is recognized worldwide. This may be the best approach, giving your child a head start on being able to communicate with the hearing impaired.
Regardless of which method you use, this will be a great learning experience for you and your child. Knowing what your baby is thinking before they can tell you is priceless.
About the Author
If you are interested in learning more about baby signing or baby sign language in the UK then visit us at SignLanguageForBabies.net.
