Baby signing

Is anyone else considering teaching their baby sign language???? Do you think it matters if you teach "baby signs" or ASL (American Sign Language)? I took ASL in college and loved it but most baby sign books/DVDs are based on baby signs. WDYT? Also, DH brought up a point I hadn't considered, he is concerned that that signing will delay speech?

Anyone have any info?

Re: Baby signing

I personally don't think it is necessary. they will speak when they are able... the brain still needs to develop a lot during the first 18 mo or so....

Besides, Crouton will be learning english, german and polish... so his brain will be quite occupied!

Re: Baby signing

well if you teach to sign and you speak the word at the same time...maybe that will help?

My youngest cousin is slow in learning how to speak, she is 3 1/2, and can only say mommy, dada, and maybe 5 other words.

She goes to a speech therapist and a school where she learns some signing. The only one I recognize is the sign for 'more' and she touches her chin. She will now say the word while touching her chin.

She understands perfectly what we all say to her because we can ask her to get something, or ask her a yes or no question. She will nod or go get what we ask of her...but won't speak.

Re: Baby signing

My mom taught asl signs to my sister when she was a baby and who is now 7, and it was amazing. She did it again with my sister who is 2. I plan on teaching my child signs. I found that with my 2 yo sister she learned and adjusted the signs to her interpretation. I think before speech is developed it is a great way for your child to communicate their needs and feelings.

Re: Baby signing

tough question

I wanted to learn sign language back in the day exactly BECAUSE i wanted children later.

My genes carry a syndrome that causes deafness.

I am partially deaf myself.

My child could be worse. I could never get in those classes because folks took it for an easy credit

If I could afford it and had a chance I'd like my child (and I) to know sign.

I will be deaf before I die (hopefully live long enough) and it's a full deaf, no medial science (today) can assist. The vibrations are missing. *shrug* so my child and hubby (if he lives long enough) are gonna gave to communicate with me somehow!!! hah

Re: Baby signing

I have a lot of friends who taught their babies sign language. It helped to diffuse temper tantrums in the terrible 2s (which started around 18 mos old) because they could communicate even though they couldn't speak yet. It also did not slow down their learning to speak. I think its great!

Re: Baby signing

I think it's great and will definitely do it. My friends little girls is slightly speech delayed and they taught her a few signs at nursery school which she started using. They love the "stop" sign (twins)

Re: Baby signing

Re: Baby signing

We taught DD some basic signs when she was a baby and will do the same with this baby as well. It was an excellent way for her to communicate to us and it did not slow down her communication skills at all. She is an extremely advanced talker and the doctors have always been amazed as to how well she speaks. So I personally don't believe that it delays speech.

We found signs to be a great way for her to tells us what she wanted before she was able to speak it. I would highly recommend it to everyone to do.

Re: Baby signing

I planning on teaching some sign language to the baby. I think it's a great way for them to be able to communicate and as long as you continue to speak to them (especially as you sign) there is no reason why it should cause a speech delay. I teach my Kindergarten kids sign now as they learn the letter sounds. They LOVE it and it's just another way to communicate. They know the whole sign language alphabet and some other basic signs.

Re: Baby signing

I took SL for a year, and read articles on how it enhances their learning capabilities later in life. Just the basics...like mom, dad, milk, hungry and thirsty. The important ones. Ive seen babies communicate through SL and its adorable.

Re: Baby signing

I taught my DS to sign. He had at least 50 signs by the time he was a year old. He was able to communicate so much. Every where I went people were amazed by how much he was signing. It was great! Sign language in no way hinders language development, in fact it only helps. My DS had 200 words by 18 months and was speaking in phrases. I think the sign language played a part in his language skills. Signing gives them a way to communicate before they are able to get the words out verbally. As soon as he started being able to say words he dropped the signs. It's much easier and faster to say the words than to sign them so they will prefer to use speech. I'm also a speech pathologist so I wouldn't recommend teaching sign language if it would in any way delay speech development.

As far as ASL vs baby signs, I don't think it really matters as long as you're consistent. With my DS I used a mix of ASL and baby signs and signs that we or he made up. Your DC isn't going to be communicating with the Deaf community so it's not really necessary to use ASL. As long as you and the other people he is communicating with know the signs you're using it will be fine. Babies don't have the motor skill to be able to sign all of the ASL so you'll have to at least use approximations for some things.

Re: Baby signing

Re: Baby signing

i have heard the opposite, that signing encouraged speech, literacy etc.

we are having the same debate about baby sign. dh is significantly hearing impaired (not profoundly deaf, does not sign) and wonders if it would be better to teach her the "real thing" even though neither of us is fluent in asl.

Re: Baby signing

There have been studies that show signing can help kids to speak earlier. I don't think it matters either which one you do as long as you are constant with the signs and others who will watch your child (daycare or babysitters, family etc) know those same signs so they will know what you child is asking for.

Re: Baby signing

I'm definitely teaching my baby sign language. Babies already have an innate need to communicate to us - crying, gesturing, etc. Why not take it further by teaching them how to communicate more effectively? Just because their vocal cords aren't ready, doesn't mean their brains and hands aren't.

Besides, it definitely will give the baby a verbal edge from studies done.

According to the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior: "At 36 months, the signing babies in our study were speaking, on average, the equivalent of non-signing 47 month olds."