What
signs should I start with?
Milk,
drink, eat, mommy, daddy, more, up, down, cat, dog (or other
family pet). These are all good signs to start off with. When
you start introducing a sign, you will want to say the word
as you sign it. Be very repetitive. Part of learning language
is done through repetition. The more your baby hears and sees
the sign, the more familiar she will be with it. For example
every time your baby wants to nurse or take a bottle you can
ask her would you like some “milk” and sign “milk”. Do this
several times so she associates milk with the sign milk. She
may watch you sign for quite a while before she actually starts
signing back to you.
Do
I have to use American or British Sign Language?
Not
at all, a lot of moms create their own signs that are simple
for baby to understand and use. In fact, if you are using
the Baby Signsä program it uses a combination of simple
ASL signs and signs that baby and parent have created.
Should
I use signs if my baby can talk?
That
depends, if you are interested in teaching your child ASL
or BSL in the future you may want to continue signing. However,
if you are using baby signs as a language bridge to encourage
talking then it is best to drop the sign once the baby knows
how to speak the word. It is good for your child to sign but
if your goal is to get her talking then it is suggested that
parents should stop using a sign once baby knows how to say
it.
What
if my baby doesn’t sign the word correctly?
That’s
okay. Babies will often sign the word differently. It doesn’t
matter. As long as baby is consistent with the sign she uses
and you can recognize it as a distinct gesture for the word
she is signing, than count it as the sign for that word. Continue
to sign the word correctly and she will either get better
at it or find her own way to sign it.
Where
can I get information on baby signing?
Here
are some great resources for baby signing
Justmommies
Baby Signing Message board
www.babysigns.com
www.signingbaby.com
www.handspeak.com
American
Sign Language Browser
Page
One: Baby Signing (The Fun of Teaching Your Baby to Sign)
