Baby Sign Language: Communicate Effectively With Your Baby Before They Can Speak

Baby Sign Language

There is a revolution taking place in the area of parent-infant communication, an exciting method of making the most of a parent's relationship with their child . This revolution is teaching baby sign language to infants before they are able to communicate using speech. This article will provide a very brief outline of this fascinating concept.

You are no doubt familiar with the sign language many deaf and hard of hearing people use to communicate. With baby signing the principle is the same, but the signs themselves are simplified and may involve other parts of the body in addition to the hands, for example opening and closing the mouth might be the sign for 'fish'.

A baby responds best to what he sees and what he can touch. This fact is the basis of the system. So, teaching baby sign language generally involves the use of familiar objects in order to get the message across. You associate a particular object or concept with a hand gesture or sign, e.g. holding a bottle of milk while performing the appropriate sign for the object. You repeat the process several times until the sign is learnt. It's simple, rewarding and great fun. It's recommended to start slowly using simple everyday words (milk, bed, teddy, etc.) and reinforce them by using the signs as often as you can.

Most babies can start to learn signing between the ages of 6 to 9 months, when they will have developed sufficient control over their hands to perform the gestures. As your baby gets older he or she may even be able to sign complete sentences. As with most things in life, practice makes perfect--repetition and plenty of encouragement form a central part of the process. However, it's important to remember not to push your baby too hard, be patient. If your baby starts viewing it as a chore rather than fun then they will cease being responsive to your teaching.

Teaching baby sign language is not difficult if you use the right resources. The deeper bond it allows between parent and infant is highly rewarding. Visit http://talkwithyourbaby.info. The site has a wealth of information, free resources and discount offers. Babyhood passes quickly, so don't put it off, get started today!