Did you know you can start using sign language consistently to a baby as early as 6-9 months old? That’s exactly what I did for my daughter and it’s been a helpful tool to help her communicate her wants and needs.
By: Chelsea, from the YouTube Channel: MommysTrying
I first started using sign language when I would volunteer and do clinicals (I’m a Physical Therapist Assistant) at a pediatric outpatient therapy clinic. Most of the children I treated were nonverbal so I had to find different ways to communicate with them whether it was through sign language, their own personal digital communicator (looked like a child’s version of a laptop!), or just communicating by touch and body language.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly the kids picked up on sign language and I knew I wanted to sign to my child once I had one of my own.
You may have heard some people reference signing to a child as “baby sign language” just because you may be signing to a baby. This presented information is based on ASL (American Sign Language) where the signs are meant for everyone, specifically the deaf, to understand. From what I understand, you wouldn’t talk to someone in “baby talk” and you shouldn’t talk to your growing baby in the same way either. So, just talk to them like how you would to anyone else and you’d be surprised just how much they understand.
Why should you use sign language with a child?
- Enhances cognitive, social, and emotional development
- It helps improve creativity, sense of understanding and recognition
- They’ll have a deeper understanding of their feelings and wants
- Reduces frustration for both the parents and the child(ren)
Every child is different
- Some children in the clinic didn’t want to sign…..and that’s okay!
- Some children stopped signing once they started talking…..and that’s okay!
- Some children continued to sign for some things and spoke at the same time
Whatever your child or any other person you’re teaching these signs to can or wants to do is fine! This is just another form of communication you can use with them.
The Rundown
Based on my research….
- You can start signing consistently to a baby as early as 6-9 months old
- Baby may not be able to sign back to you until they’re 8-12 months old
- Sign and say the word at the same time
- Physically help your child make the sign as you’re saying the word
- Do the action and point to what you’re signing for so your little one (L.O.) will have a better understanding
- It’s never too late to sign with your child
- Depending on whether they can speak back to you or not they may actually feel motivated to express their feelings and wants to you
- Always try to sign with compassion and patience. This is something new for you and your child and it should be fun for the both of you.
- Consistency and body language are everything, especially to a baby
Sign language words that has resonated with my daughter:
Milk
- Imagine yourself getting ready to milk a cow
- Open your hand as if you’re about to grab that cow’s udder, now squeeze onto that imaginary udder (don’t pull down, keep your hand stationary in the air) and repeat
More
Make all of your fingertips touch at once with one hand, do the same to the other hand, now make all 10 fingertips touch together, repeat
All done
Bring both hands up with flat palms, twist your wrists repeatedly
Eat
Bring your fingertips in one hand together and bring it towards your mouth
Bed
Bring flat palms together, place your palms on the side of your face and lean your head towards them
Thank you
Bring a flat palm to your chin, bring your hand down towards your navel
Please
Place a flat palm at the top left part of your chest, keep your hand like this and move it down on your chest in a circular pattern
Other signs that are popular:
Potty
Tuck your thumb under your pointer finger, now twist your wrist side to side
Dad (top picture); Mom (bottom)
With a flat hand, place your thumb on your chin to sign for “Mom”. Repeat on your forehead if you wish to sign for “Dad” (your fingers can be opened or closed when signing this).
Wait
With your palms facing you, wiggle your fingers forward and back, repeat this.
It looks like you’re imitating those lovely “spirit fingers”.
Want
Palms flat and facing up in front and slightly away from your body, clench your fists and bring tuck your elbows in towards you
Bath
Place and maintain both hands in a “thumbs up” gesture, start from the top of your chest and move down your chest, repeat this gesture moving up and down repeatedly
Car
Imagine that you’re about to turn a car’s steering wheel
Make your hands into a fist and bring them up in front of you, now turn that imaginary steering wheel side to side
If you have pets…
Cat (as shown): do an “okay” hand gesture placing your thumb and pointer finger on the side of your cheek, pinch as you move your hand away from your face
Dog: smack your thigh and snap. A baby can’t snap their fingers so you can modify it by just having them smack their thigh to sign for “dog’
If this subject seems to catch your attention and you’re interested in taking it a little further, check out Babysignlanguage.com where they have great resources for both beginners and avid learners. They even go as far as posting a dictionary for words you may want to sign, and, with a fee you could even order flashcards and wall charts to really implement it into your family’s routine. By the way, I’m not getting paid to mention the above name, it’s just a great resource I’ve found and wanted to share! If there’s enough interest, I can always expand upon this as much as you’d like.
I hope this is something new that you and your family will enjoy, even if you only choose to sign 1 or 2 things. You’ll start to see just how quick, effective, and helpful it can be for everyday use. Let me know how you did, have fun, and good luck!