Article in Treasure Valley Baby Magazine 2010-2011


Signing with Your Baby

At the first moment of touch, a journey of communication begins between an infant and caregiver. Studies have shown that the initial and continuous visual contact, especially during feeding time, helps newborns develop a sense of security and safety. Being held, swaddled, and consoled are ways new parents cultivate reassurance for their babies.


This “conversational” process is crucial in helping infants grow into self-reliant toddlers and eventually confident school-age children.


Communication is a critical ability and though there are many ways we “talk” to our children—eye contact, body language, nonverbal and verbal cues—one method that is becoming a norm in many households is sign language. Children naturally sign. We say “so big” and a child’s arms are flung in the air with much enthusiasm at a very young age.


Or think of the first time your child shook his head “no” in response to a question. Bye-bye is done with a wave of the hand. I love you is spoken through blowing a kiss. A sense of pride is demonstrated with clapping hands.And approval is shown by nodding.

As humans, we naturally use body language as a way to get our point across. A few years ago I took an American Sign Language (ASL) course.


The teacher, who was hearing-impaired, explained to us that most of sign language is about expression—facial and body expression. The emotion behind the sign is far more important than the accuracy of the sign itself. This is why charades can be so much fun!


There is a myth that needs to be put to rest regarding teaching a baby sign language and that is the belief that encouraging our children to sign might delay speech development.  Signing is simply a second language.


Children are naturally multi-lingual—if they are in a home where grandma speaks Spanish, they learn to talk to grandma in her language and also learn the mainstream language spoken by their peers and other family members. When my oldest son was a three-year-old, he was using sign language as his primary method to communicate. Talking was simply more challenging for him than signing. But as he got older I had to gradually limit his signing to help encourage him to learn verbal skills.


He knew the sounds of language, but because of his developmental and speech delays, I had to creatively introduce language development targeted to his ability. This type of teaching, signing combined with verbal skills, is a special situation not normally indicative of language needs for typical babies and toddlers.


What sign language can offer a family is the ability to limit the frustrations that many babies and toddlers experience when they have trouble effectively vocalizing their needs because speech has not yet developed—but the desire for specific communication is certainly there!


All of my children have learned some form of sign, allowing me to tell them something during a family outing or dinner without interrupting the flow of events. My children frequently research the “signs” for songs and sayings and “act them out” like a game of charades.


The skill sets developed through signing have carried over into teaching them Spanish too. Through our family’s experiences, I’ve seen how signing can be an invaluable gift.


A friend of mine recently visited my home and was amazed that my one-year-old was “talking” so clearly. He simply signed when: He was ALL DONE – signed with hands open in front of chest, palms facing in, then quickly shook them outwards a few times.


He WANTED MORE – signed with hands in front of che st, touching fingertips together and repeating the motions once or twice.


He WANTED MILK – signed with one hand in front of chest, in a closed fist position, squeezing it closed then slightly opened, like milking a cow.


He WANTED TO EAT – signed with one hand in front of mouth, tapping fingertips on the lips a few times.


He WANTED TO BE PICKED UP – signed by holding arms up, hands open, and bouncing up and down.


He naturally grabs his blanket and crawls into a lap when he feels tired or needs hugs. Because his desires are “readable” to his caregivers, they are easier to meet in a timely manner, minimizing disgruntlement and almost eliminating crying as a way to get his needs met. These were signs that I taught him in natural everyday situations.


Rebecca Evans is an Empowerment Coach,
Transformational Speaker, mother of three, and
freelance writer from Eagle. She’s authored six books
and illustrated one children’s book. To reach her, go to
inner-element.com.

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