Baby Sign Language: The Advantages Of Sign Language

Baby Sign Language

Sign language is not just a random collection of gestures... it is a full-blown language in its own right, complete with its own grammatical rules. Each country or region has its own sign language, as different from each other as English is from Spanish. Each version of sign language is somewhat linked to the spoken language in its region. For example, American sign language does share similarities with English, even though it is its own language.

Sign language is not based on sentences like English, but on phrases and ideas. When translating sign language into English, for example, some words will have a direct translation. Others find no adequate translation for the true meaning, just like translating Japanese to English, or English to Arabic.

The written history of sign language begins in France in the 18th century. Charles-Michel de l'Epee founded the first ever public school for deaf children. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded the first American school for the deaf in 1817, and his son, Edward Miner Gallaudet, founded the first and only liberal arts college in the world for the deaf in 1857. In 1864, its name became Gallaudet University, and it remains the only such school of higher learning in the world today.

In any sign language, the words are made in gestures and expression, rather than sounds and letters. Expressions are just as important as the gestures. They build upon the meaning of the gestures to convey more information than the gestures could alone.

In some ways, sign language is better than the spoken word... communication can occur in areas where speaking is not appropriate (in places of worship or while hunting), not allowed (in recording studios or other places where speaking is disruptive) or physically impossible (underwater, or in places that are too loud to hear speech).

The advantages of knowing sign language in addition to a spoken language are many. Communication becomes possible on many levels with the deaf community, with other people either hearing or not in any of the above situations, as well as many more.

Being able to serve the deaf community may also increase your business. Approximately 22 out of every 1000 persons is deaf or hearing impaired.

You may even meet a new best friend that you never would have tried to communicate with before you learned sign language.

Teaching your baby sign language can decrease frustration for both you and your baby, and increase parent-child bonding. The possibilities are endless when you increase your means of communication.

Basic sign language is easy to learn, for more information visit us at BasicSignLanguage.net.

Article Source: Marie Wilson

Baby Sign Language: Is Baby Sign Language What You Really Need?

Baby Sign Language

The early communication techniques between parents and their babies are very difficult at the beginning for both parties. Babies are not able to tell what they want and neither to ask for something that would make them feel better. Parents are hence very stressed and concerned about their babies' needs, especially at the early age of nursery. For this reason experts have come up with an effective idea that is meant to ease the first stage of communication between new parents and their little children.

Baby sign language is a special method by which parents can implement some words and gestures into the life of their little ones. The technique by which baby sign language can be taught to children is called modeling and it consists of a mixture of words and gestures so that the baby would get used to recognizing some of the signs. For example, parents are advised to say the word of the action that they are about to do for their babies out loud before starting doing it. Hence, before eating they can say "eat" or before sleeping "sleep". By this method children will get used to assimilating the words with the gestures or actions and will soon be able to recognize the specific actions.

Specialists think that this method is very effective, as gradually, the child will get accustomed to the specific words and to match them with the corresponding actions that they express.

Parents are highly advised to use the baby sign language with their children and they are likely to see notable improvement in their babies' behavior. This special language is considered to be the preparatory step taken before the actual process of learning more and more difficult words. Studies have shown that children respond to this technique very well and that they behave better once they have learned these initial sign rules.

There are parents who fear of using it because they consider this can affect their babies' later process of learning real words. Experts argue by explaining that the efficiency of sign language is tested and that there were no cases of altering further learning processes by it.

The age that babies should be in order to be able to respond to this technique is six months. A six month baby will memorize the gestures that his parents do after naming the specific action to be done. Studies show that the average age at which babies will also be able to imitate these gestures is seven or eight months. At this age children are aware of the special signs that denote certain actions.

Parents do not need to have a thorough knowledge of the techniques used in baby sign language, as they may invent their own gestures and they may choose the key moments in which to make those gestures and say the words. It is a matter of imagination and many parents consider it to be fun both for them as for their babies.

Article Source: Marie Wilson

Baby Sign Language: Ten Tips for Learning and Teaching Baby Sign Language

Baby Sign Language

Teaching even hearing babies sign language seems to be the rage in recent years and for good reason. Communicating in sign language is fun and natural as babies instinctively use body gestures in early communication.

A quick search at Google reveals that there are many tools available to support you in learning and teaching sign language. What I want to share today are ten tips to keep in mind as you move through this journey of 'talking' with your baby. Ideally, these tips will encourage and remind you that learning a new language is an ongoing process and one well worth enjoying!

1. Start signing to your baby as early as possible. Sometime around six months of age your baby will start holding your gaze for several seconds or more. This is prime time to introduce simple signs. Your child will be enchanted and you will find it really adds to bonding with your baby.
2. Be simple and intuitive in your signing. 'First signs' correlate very well to 'first words'. It only makes sense that these signs demonstrate things meaningful to your baby. Signs for milk, more, eat, done/finished and sleepy are all one action signs that are used frequently and learned quickly.
3. Remember, just like verbal words, your baby will understand signs correctly before she begins to make signs. Applaud approximations, physical coordination is an ongoing process too, so watch for subtleties in movement and ask your baby for confirmation that they are signing.
4. Spend a little time each day practicing signs yourself. You do not have to be a fluent signer to start teaching your baby to communicate effectively. The beauty of this language is that you can effectively both learn it at the same time... one sign and one day at a time.
5. Use picture books. It's never too early to introduce books into your baby's life. Get simple books about objects, animals, colors, feelings, etc. and learn the signs so you can demonstrate them as you say and show them. Another great idea in addition to picture books is to get a set of flashcards.
6. Smile LOTS! One thing I have noticed with parents who are new at using sign language is that sometimes they focus more on getting the sign right than on the joy of communicating with their baby. Sometimes when confronted with our own learning curve we feel awkward and maybe a bit foolish. I advise you here to take your cues from your baby. You will notice he is totally in the joy of the experience no matter how closely he approximates the action. Follow his lead!
7. Talk, laugh or sing as you sign and be sure to make eye contact. Have fun with this and remember to emphasize the word you're signing, "Do you want more applesauce?"
8. Add signs quickly. Don't worry about going too fast for your baby. It's likely that her pace may in fact be quicker than yours so commit yourself to learning new signs daily and easing them immediately into your conversation. As you begin to recognize how many signs mimic their meaning you will find learning them comes quickly and easily. For instance, the sign for baby is simply the motion of rocking an imaginary baby in your arms.
9. Sign often. Don't make signing an event that you save for your child just at certain times. The easiest way to learn a second language is to simply incorporate it in to your daily activities. Sign language is a language, let it live!
10. Prepare for the unexpected. Your child will surprise and delight you with their awareness and creativity. Whether it's expressing a sign so dramatically that you almost missed recognizing that they were signing or as in the case of my friend-- His 14 month old was furiously signing 'ball' when they were out for a walk at the park. Dad and Mom only saw the dog and kept trying to correct their little guy by showing him the sign for 'dog'. Finally the dog moved so that they could see what their son saw all along, the dog was hiding a ball.
    

Keeping these ten tips in mind will ensure that you and your baby easily succeed in learning to effectively communicate with sign language. You will know what's on their mind up to a year earlier than you would have waiting for verbal words to occur. Now you just have the challenge of the 18 month old remembering a sign they were shown once two weeks earlier when you read the book about the 'pig' and now they're begging you to read that book... only problem is, you were not the parent that showed them that sign and you have no clue. I promise... if you're not careful they will leave you in the dust!

Article Source: Mary K Weinhagen

Baby Sign Language: Some of the reasons why you might want to try it

Baby Sign Language

Most mothers intuitively know many of their babies needs and
desires, but have you ever considered communicating with your
baby using sign Language?

Here are some of the reasons why you might want to try it, and what you
Can expect if you do.

1. You can use language to communicate with your baby

before they can talk (sign language).

2. If your baby can actually use simple signs to communicate to you

it makes them feel better. (they have communicated and been

understood)

3. In early childhood development, using sign language develops

the brain and can create higher I.Q..

4. Babies develop the muscles in their hands before they develop

those required for speech

5. It helps prevent tantrums - more peaceful and happy home.

You can begin teaching your baby sign language anytime,
but the best time to begin sign language with your baby is between 6-8 months.

Once you can hold eye contact with your baby and keep her attention
for at least 7 seconds, you could begin with a simple sign for something
that baby is very familiar with - milk for example.

The sign for milk is: a closed fist them you open the fist and then close it again.
When baby wants milk, you have the bottle in one hand and do the sign with
The other hand, saying milk.

Baby may not respond if you start earlier than 6-8 months
but she IS listening and watching. Research shows that babies that are exposed to and
use sign language, talk earlier, and have a larger speaking vocabulary. Learning and using sign language does not take up more time, in fact it is a game that you and baby will enjoy and make the time together more fun.

The end result could be amazing...

Article Source: Heather Robillard

Baby Sign Language: Why Use Baby Sign Language

Baby Sign Language

Before babies are taught by parents to speak, they begin communicating through sign language. Of course without a guide to reference what the signs mean from baby to parent it is a struggle. The communication needs to be two way. Initially biology and instinct lead the way. Your new born will indicate what they need through a series of cries. In order to start communicating it is our job to learn from baby. The first building block to sign language is nurture. The feeding and protection demonstrated by parents to their babies is essential to communication. When baby realizes that warm soothing tones of your voices are providing care and attention then a strong trust bond is established.

The intellectual development runs roughly in the beginning months along the following time frame. The reflex stage starts from birth to two months and babies tend to engage in simple reflex activities such as grasping and sucking. Babies evolve to primary circular reactions next. This involves stereotyped repetition such as opening and closing fingers. These early stages are baby's signals to parents that they are becoming receptive to what's going on around them. Around six months, typical activities and sounds include vocalization with intonation. His / Her own name recognition and responds to voices by turning the head and eyes. Babies are also able to distinguish between happy and unhappy tones about now.

It is at this point that they are intellectually able to receive sign language and implement it into daily life. Step by step and with practice the learning goes on. From signing hunger to "I'm cold" the sign language gathers momentum. Once baby reaches twelve months then they can generally use a few words with meaning. Although the words may not be complete. He / She will understand basic instructions, particularly with physical or vocal cues are used as part of the instruction. The social implications of speaking will be realized at this point too. So they commence the exchange of speech with those around them, usually on a one to one basis. Sign language and speech are used through out peoples lives. However the significance of the early adoption of sign language maybe overlooked in parenting. It is natural for parents to want the best for their children. It is good judgment on their part to use techniques which are advantage to both themselves and babies. After all in a perfect scenario babies signal their needs without bursting eardrums and causing unrest. Instead simply nurture and develop the biological techniques given to us all by mother nature to our mutual advantage.

The importance of baby sign language is straight forward. Once the communication is two way with similar signs then communication is made easier. Not only in the first year of development. But in the years after too. The principle is to get the child to rationalize it's needs through it's signing so that it's requirements are met easily. It is thought that children who have used baby signing with their parents have an advantage socially and intellectually.

Sign language for babies is their natural language before learning the power of speech. Signing with your baby offers an opportunity to progress your baby's learning from an early stage. Read my article and visit my site to learn more!

Article Source: Chris Wethered

Baby Sign Language: Beginners Guide to Baby Sign Language

Baby Sign Language

Baby sign language teaches babies a collection of easy to remember and simple gestures to use as a way of communicating. From about 8 months of age babies do not have the ability to speak but can start to understand much of what is being said. Babies from this age can easily be taught to use gestures as a way of communicating.

Signing does not interfere with your baby’s speech or language development; it actually encourages babies to speak sooner and assists to develop a large vocabulary. Once a baby starts verbalizing words he will still find signing useful for those words that are more difficult. You can start teaching baby sign language at any age, even if your child has started saying some words already. Babies up to the age of 2 ½ years can benefit from signing.

Research has shown that teaching your baby sign language can deliver an array of benefits that include:

• Encourages greater interest in books and pretend play at an early age

• Enriches bond with parents, siblings and carers

• Increases self-esteem and self-confidence

• Increases communication and learning at a very early age

• Helps babies talk sooner

• Reduces tantrums, tears and frustration

• Helps improve intellectual development

• Develops larger vocabularies and helps babies understand more words

To start baby sign language you do not need to attend a course or have any prior knowledge of signing. Baby sign language is designed to be simple and fun and easily learnt by parents to build into their everyday life as a way of communicating with their baby.

To start signing with your baby all you need is an illustrated book listing the available signs. Pick a couple of words that you use daily and start to sign that word every time you say it. Make sure your baby can see your hands when you are signing and ensure that you are consistent. Depending on the baby’s age it may take several weeks before your baby signs back to you but when she does it will all be worth it!

Article Source: Jen Hart

Baby Sign Language: The Benefits of Teaching Your Baby to Sign

Baby Sign Language

Baby sign language is a technique where very young children and infants are taught to communicate through American Sign Language. Supporters of baby sign language teaching boast that this technique enables these children the ability to communicate when verbal skills are not yet developed.

Some benefits of baby sign language are:

Less frustration-induced temper tantrums -

Imagine, as an adult, how frustrating it would be to NOT be able to communicate or needs to another person. Very young children experience this frustration many times as day as their verbal skills are not developed fully to enable them to communicate their needs. In young children, lack of being understood leads to frustration and this frustration tends to lead to a full-blown temper tantrum. Temper tantrums are not necessarily behavior problems, they are more communication problems.

Giving your baby the opportunity to communicate effectively can severely decrease the amount of temper tantrums in your home.

Less Frustration for Parents -

As a parent, wouldn't it be wonderful to know exactly what your child wanted each time they cried or tried to communicate with you? Baby sign language offers simple hand motions to signal, "tired", "hungry", "cold", "more" and many, many other simple terms.

Baby sign language begins the process of effective communication between parent and child. Being able to understand, and respond, to your child's needs is a crucial step in nurturing your child and strengthening the bond.

"Speeding Up" Your Child's Verbal Communication Skills

Research has been conducted at both the University of California and California State University to determine the benefits of using baby sign language as a part of parenting. Many concerns had been raised regarding the possible detriment to a child's verbal learning by the use of learning sign language. Though out the testing at these two universities, the opposite was determined. Teaching baby sign language actually appeared to enhance the learning of verbal skills of the children involved.

Learning American Sign Language

What a wonderful gift to your child, and to your self, to learn a life-enhancing skill such as sign language! There are so many hearing-impaired individuals who go through life not being able to verbally communicate with others. By teaching, and learning, baby sign language, you are also giving both you and your child the ability to communicate with the hearing-impaired.

Experts have stated that children as young as six months old are able to start learning baby sign language and would be able to use that same sign language by the time they are eight months old. Most children are not completely verbally-adept until they are 3-years old. Using baby sign language could make for a less frustrating time during those pre-verbal years. Using baby sign language in your home could help make those "terrible twos" not-so-terrible!

Baby Sign Language is being used in more and more homes each day. Learning how to teach your baby to sign is not hard at all! For more helpful tips and information on Baby Sign Language, please visit: Raise a Smart Baby with Baby Sign Language

Article Source: Jennifer Ledbetter

Baby Sign Language: Communicating With Your Toddler through Baby Sign Language

Baby Sign Language

The early years of parenting are the most difficult and trickiest part in any parents' life. It is the most important too, as the bonding that occurs between parent and child at these early stages play a crucial role in the relationship for years to follow. Understanding your infants' needs can be most frustrating, as crying is just about the only communicational skill an infant is capable of, until they learn to speak. The art of interpreting their wails and moans and figuring out their needs can be very difficult and complicated.

Babies attempt communication as early as their fetal stages. A return kick to a tummy rub, a punch to a loud song, these are the earliest forms of communication. Until about four months after birth, their communication consists mainly of reflexive crying to express themselves. At this stage, reacting to crying is extremely important and the best strategy is to understanding their cries and expressing the desired response. Showing interest and attending to the baby's needs shows that the communication is working and builds the attachment and trust between you and your child. Parenting can be more enjoyable when positive parent - child relationship is established. Good communication is the key to building self-esteem as well a mutual respect.

This communication can go a step further, with the help of baby sign language, where your infant actively participate in making coherent expressions of their needs. Teaching your infant to sign their needs at an early age before they learn coordinated speech will help reduce frustration for both you and your child. Research by Joseph Garcia, an American Sign interpreter and a leading proponent of use of ASL as the basis for Baby Sign, indicates that babies who are exposed to signs regularly and consistently at six to seven months of age can begin using signs effectively by the eighth or ninth month."

Infants lack the cognitive ability to coordinate their lips, tongue, brain, breath, and vocal chords simultaneously, i.e. they lack the motor skills to speak. But hand-eye coordination is possible in advance of the acquisition of verbal skills. Infants can learn to express their needs using simple signs for common words such as "eat", "sleep", "more", "hug", "play", "cookie", "teddy bear", etc., before they are able to produce understandable speech - Amazing but true. If you can master the skills, and teach your baby to express himself through 'signing,' it can bridge the gap between you and your infants' world. The end result? Contentment and peace of mind for both of you.

Teaching and using baby sign language consistently with your hearing baby can hold many other rewards.

· Helps accelerate baby's verbal language skills earlier than usual

· Helps enhance baby's receptive and expressive vocabulary

· Helps them learn to read more easily as a child

· Enhances their creative ability

· Results in a higher IQ by 10-12 points

· Promotes a better child/parent bond

There has been significant research on the benefits of Baby Signs, including its application on children with special needs and development delays. Some of this research indicate that children who have been taught Baby Signs have achieved early vocabularies and have had improved cognitive and communication skills throughout childhood. Baby signs are highly recommended by childhood educators, speech pathologists and child psychologists to help enhance the early stages of a child's development and for a better parent child relationship.

The KinderSigns American Sign Language for babies Career Kit will help you with your BABY or better yet turn you into an ENTREPRENUER; you will love the benefits of communicating with your baby or starting a home business of your own to help other moms in your community.

Kindersigns.com is the most complete American Sign Language for Babies program available to day. Not only will you learn how to communicate with your child, but you will also have everything you need to turn your new sign language skills into a thriving business opportunity!

Article Source: Susan Hutson

Baby Sign Language: So what's it all about?

Baby Sign Language

So what's it all about? Baby Sign Language or (Baby Sign) is the method of using sign language to communicate with babies before they can talk. It is

Steadily gaining in popularity worldwide and has many benefits to both the parent and the child.

Many people worry about sign language delaying speech but in fact the opposite has been proven to be true. Baby Signing help develop IQ and language skills and many signing babies actually speak earlier and have a wider vocabulary than non signing babies.

So how do you sign with your baby?

Baby Sign Language is based on the adult form of sign language usually with a bit more flexibility, so signs can be altered to make it easier for little hands to copy. I am writing this article based on British Sign Language.

First off there is some extra information that will be useful to you before you begin.

*You can start signing with your baby at any age but you will get the best results from about 7 months old, this is because your baby's memory will be developed enough to store and use the signs effectively.

*On average it takes 4-6 weeks for the baby to start to copy the signs back to you so you will need to be patient.

*You must be consistent is using the same sign all the time and repetition really is the key to success. You should get other family members and nursery staff to use the same signs too. The more baby sees the sign the quicker he will respond.

*Learn the signs yourself in advance so that you will be prepared for when your baby points at something and looks as you with a questioning face, you will be able to show the sign right away.

*Say the word while you make the sign, make sure the baby knows what you are talking about - point to the object or person or animal, make sure your baby is looking at the same thing.

*Be receptive to your baby's development, when she is taking an interest in communication and is babbling to you then she will be most open to learning signs.

*Make it fun! Use signs in nursery rhymes and action songs, use signs when reading books, make animal noises along with the signs, anything to engage your baby.

Ok so on to the signing. It is best to start with signs that are part of your baby's everyday life, the first three signs that get the best results are;

Milk, Eat, More

So we will start with those

Milk

To make the sign for Milk:

Make fists with both hands and extend your thumbs and little fingers, hold your hands vertically so that your little fingers point downwards and your thumbs point upwards. Hold your hands in front of your body and move them alternatively up and down as if milking a cow.

Top Tip: Show your baby her bottle and ask her 'Do you want your milk' then do the sign. Say the word 'Milk' whilst making the sign a few times before and after giving the bottle. If you are breast feeding make the sign before your baby latches on, and if possible while she is feeding.

Eat

To make the sign for Eat:

Take one hand and bunch your fingers towards your thumb and bring your hand up to your mouth and touch your lips with the tips of your fingers and thumb.

Top Tip: This sign is for when your baby starts solids. You can ask you baby if he is ready for his dinner and make the sign for eat, take him to his highchair and make the sign again as you feed him.

More

To make the sign for More:

Tap the back of one hand with the other hand.

Top Tip: This is a sign that gets really good responses as it is so easy to do and baby will quickly realize that she can ask for 'more food', 'more game', 'more book', 'more tickle'. Try it when you are feeding your baby, pause in between spoonfuls and wait for baby to look at you, then ask 'Do you want more?' and make the sign.

Obviously it is easier to learn the signs when you can look at a picture or even better still a video dictionary! A lot of Baby Sign companies offer local classes which are a great way to meet other parents and join a group, but if you are too busy or there is no local class near you, you might find learning online is a good option for you.

Hopefully this article has stirred some interest in you and you will go on to discover the joys of signing with your baby!

Article Source: Nicola Smout

Baby Sign Language: Communication Before Speech

Baby Sign Language

Prior to mastering the art of speech, your baby has great difficulty in communicating his needs to you. This can cause frustration for you both -- yet there is a solution. Baby sign language is rapidly becoming popular as a means of recognising -- and responding to -- a young baby's needs.

Babies can be taught sign language from any age, but they really begin to take notice of the signs from around six months and may begin using them from as early as seven to eight months of age. As many parents will testify, babies understand an awful lot more than they are able to communicate through speech at this stage.

Some parents fear that using baby sign language may hamper their child's speech development later on. Research into this subject, however, shows that children taught baby sign in infancy go on to develop superb language skills. In some cases, they may learn to speak earlier and often have an increased ability to learn a second language.

There are other benefits to introducing baby sign language - studies indicate that children who sign often develop a higher than average IQ. The major advantage for parents, of course, is to be able to identify their babies' needs and respond appropriately -- easing the frustrations that can lead to tantrums. Once this channel of communication is open, many parents feel that a deeper bond with their child is formed, creating a great sense of harmony.

There are various methods by which you can learn to sign with your child -- no prior knowledge is needed, so learning along with your baby is part of the fun! It is important to remember to say the word when introducing any signs to your baby and to use the signs consistently - both in the home and outside it. Also, try to familiarise anyone who cares for your child with the signs they are using.

Some people like to invent their own signs to use with their babies, whereas others prefer to use conventional signs based on formal sign language -- the advantage of using these is that they are recognised by a wide group of people. There are many books, DVDs and flashcards available, based on formal signing, that make learning this new skill both simple and enjoyable.

Taking into account the benefits that this simple communication can bring, it's no wonder that more and more parents are using baby sign language -- and achieving a fascinating insight into their babies' minds!

Article Source: Christine Albury

Baby Sign Language: Teaching A Second Language

Baby Sign Language

In modern times a growing interest has been developed towards teaching sign language to hearing pre-verbal babies and toddlers. The most common reason behind this is an intense desire on the part of a parent or caregiver to understand what the baby is feeling or needing at any given moment. Sign language provides you the opportunity to easily communicate with the child without experiencing any frustration. Furthermore as the parent or caregiver, you would be able to experience a deeper bonding with the infant as well as the satisfaction of knowing how to effectively communicate with him/her.

Teaching sign language to a baby is quite easy and can be a very enjoyable experience. Infants use a different part of their brain for signing than speech and they also develop the muscles in their hands before those which are required for speech thus enabling them to sign successfully before speaking. Research has shown that signing babies experience less frustration due to the fact of being able to communicate their needs and wants to their parents. In addition to this there are many other advantages of teaching sign language to your infant. Research shows that being multilingual expands cognitive processes and intellectual skills as well as it boosts the lingual developments of an infant. So in fact as opposed to the existing myths regarding sign language delaying speech in a child, signing children actually speak sooner than those who do not. Children who sign, has shown stronger lingual development and higher IQ results (10-12 points) than those who do not sign.

Chances are your baby already knows some signing gestures such as waving bye-bye and clapping when she/he is happy. Once you have decided to teach signing to your infant, start with a few gestures. One method is to start with signs which are needed often through out the day. For example milk, eat, more, drink or sleep. Another method to introduce the first sign gestures are through activities/things which interest or excite your little one. Babies love to play with pets or listen to music. Start introducing these words to him/her. Always say the word out loud while signing it. For example when you are giving your baby milk, say the word out loud as you are signing it. Consistency is the key to success in teaching your child sign language. As your baby starts to recognize the signs and signs back at you, you can start introducing some new signs. But keep using the ones which your baby already knows.

It may take a while for the baby to respond to the signs depending on his/her age. Do not get discouraged about this; just keep on signing to your baby. Eventually your baby will start to respond. An important fact to keep in mind is that your baby will not be able to perform the gestures fluently as you are able to do it. Your baby will adapt some hand shapes and movement of signs depending on his/her hand/eye coordination. Keep signing to your baby in the correct way and as he/she matures and develops the skills, the signing would be more precise.

Teaching sign language is not time consuming and you do not require any prior knowledge. You can easily pick up signs through the help of a sign language dictionary, a baby signing book or through websites. You can start teaching your baby as early as six months of age. Enjoy teaching your child and have fun. Do not make it into a boring or exhausting chore. Be patient, consistent and encouraging. Soon you would be amazed by how easily your pre-verbal child communicates with you.

Kindersigns.com is one of the largest Baby Sign Language Networks worldwide. Their Kindersigns Instructor Business Opportunity includes everything you need to start your Baby Sign Language Business including learning modules, class materials, web site and email.

Article Source: Jamie Opielski

Baby Sign Language: Build a Stronger Bond With Your Baby

Baby Sign Language

Babies need two very important things in order to be successful, healthy and happy. They need all the love, attention and cuddling that we can provide, and they need to build a strong bond with their mothers, fathers and care givers. In this article, I want to show you how sign language can help you build a stronger bond with your baby.

In the past, many mothers had the mind-set that it was good to let babies cry. Now, research shows that it's better to respond to your babies cries, it helps to build a trusting relationship. When we meet our babies needs on demand, they feel safe and secure. Research also shows that bonding with our babies is crucial and helps the baby form a first model for intimate relationships developed later on in life. If babies are not given this all important mothering and assurance that we will be there to meet their needs and keep them safe, they may grow up with insecurities, anxious feelings and lacking self confidence.

Sign Language is another way we can meet the needs of our infants. Think of it as another tool we can use. It helps us build stronger bonds by establishing a loving relationship through early communication and it lets us understand what our baby wants before they cans speak. It's pretty easy to meet the needs of our infants by keeping them warm, picking them up when they cry, keeping them dry and feeding them when their hungry. Taking care of these needs can usually keep them happy. It gets harder when our babies are around six months old. Now they know what they want but, what if we don't quite understand what those wants are?

Six month olds still need us to be loving, attentive and to fulfill their every need. Sign Language for babies helps us continue to fulfill those needs. When we teach our baby signs, they can tell us what they want in a way that we can understand. If you're baby is hungry, she will sign milk and you'll know what she wants without all the crying and fussing. It also lowers frustration levels of both baby and parents.

Parents today are busy with work, commuting, errands, juggling kids and daycare. They need to find time to develop a strong bond with their babies. Teaching babies American Sign Language is a great way to establish a loving bond between families and infants, giving babies a great start in social, cognitive and language development.

Testing that took place in the late 1980's showed that babies had needs that would have gone unexpressed because their vocal skills were not developed yet. Babies can let their needs be known with American Sign Language. In addition, an intimate bond was developed between mom and infant as signs were taught and understood. If you start signing with your baby at six months you should see them respond with sign in a few months.

Many Parents bond over time with continued care giving, while most infants are ready to bond from birth. Babies bond through interaction, touch, sight, smell, voice recognition, daily rituals and imitation. Communication is an important part of the bonding process. Communicate your way to a loving relationship. Teaching your baby sign in a fun way, learning a second language that is easy makes you're life easier. You will notice less frustration which will also enhance your relationship. It is easier to have a loving relationship when everyone is happy.

When your little one signs their first word you'll be as thrilled as when they take their first step or when they speak their first word! Best of all, you'll be able to respond and communicating with an eight month old baby. (This is an approximate age, dependent on when you start using sign, and when your baby is developmentally ready to sign.)

Article Source: Karann Smith

Baby Sign Language: An Introduction

Baby Sign Language

Baby sign language is increasing in it's popularity. Baby sign language is where you teach your infant, or young child, to use sign language to communicate. This is often taught before the infant is able to verbally communicate.

Anyone who has seen Meet the Fockers probably remembers the scenes with baby sign language. Jack teaches his young grandson to communicate through baby sign language in the movie. There has been some controversy over whether or not baby sign language can be detrimental to the verbal developments in a baby, but the research has actually shown the opposite to be true. Baby sign language can be instrumental in speeding up the process of the baby learning to verbally communicate.

Baby sign language should be and normally is the same as American Sign Language. This way your baby learns proper sign language that will be of benefit to them as they continue to grow and will be able to communicate with those who are hearing impaired.

Many people give credit for the advancement of baby sign language to a few members of the staff at California State University and University of California. They conducted research that showed the many benefits of baby sign language. Joseph Garcia, an interpreter for American Sign Language, found out in his research that starting to show signs to a baby at six to seven months old will generally enable that baby to be able to communicate through baby sign language by the time they are eight to nine months old.

There are several words and phrases that you will be able to teach your infant through baby sign language. A few of them are more, eat, sleep, help, dirty, cold, again, thank you, toothbrush, and many more! Imagine the fun and joy of being able to communicate with your preverbal infant through baby sign language!

There are different ways to teach your baby sign language. Many parents find success through purchasing DVDs to teach their baby sign language. There are also books and flashcards that work quite well. The important thing is diligent repetition so that the baby will learn to associate the sign with what it is that they desire to express. Baby sign language is a fantastic opportunity for your child. Many parents have experienced how amazing it is to be able to communicate with their infant through baby sign language and testify of it's benefits.

Article Source: Tim Rohweder

Baby Sign Language: Sign Language for Babies

Baby Sign Language

Recent trends have seen a move towards the use of sign language with babies and more and more parents are embracing this practice as an opportunity to develop communication and interaction with their baby.

The following article presents some key facts related to the practice of baby sign language:

What is Baby Sign Language?

Baby sign language is the practice of signing with babies prior to the acquisition of verbal speech. As an example, a young baby would be unable to verbally generate the relevant language to tell you that he/she was hungry and as such, the parent would need to interpret a series of cries and protestations to arrive at this realisation. However, a baby who as acquired the use of baby sign language would be able to make a simple sign relating to hunger which is easily interpreted and understood by the parent.

What is Baby Sign Language derived from?

Baby sign language is based on British Sign Language (BSL).

BSL is the second most widely used language in the UK and the first language of approximately 70,000 people. It is a visual-gestural language which makes use of three dimensional space and the movement of hands (and other parts of the body) to convey meaning and it has its own vocabulary and syntax.

The key signs used in BSL are easily transferred to both hearing and non hearing babies alike.

What are the Origins of using BSL with babies?

Prior to the popular uptake of sign language with babies, it became clear that the Deaf babies acquired language (i.e. BSL) far more quickly than their hearing peers. This observation was the key driver for trialling BSL with babies.

What are the Benefits of using BSL with Babies?

Firstly, babies who learn BSL in early life are more likely to exhibit the following characteristics (when compared to their hearing peers who did not learn BSL) when older:

* Greater confidence with language

* Broader vocabulary range

Are there any Negative Effects in respect to using BSL with Babies?

No, there are no negatives effects in respect to using BSL with babies. Many individuals are under the impression that learning sign language could impede the acquisition of normal verbal speech. However, this is not the case and in reality, the baby actually gains a far richer vocabulary in respect to the spoken language as opposed to his / her hearing counterparts who have not learned BSL.

Article Source: Neil Payne