Signing

Signing is wonderful for some kids and not wonderful for others; just like everything else every child is different! I have used signs with my 15-month old. He doesn't say much verbally (I know it is still very early for this, so I am not bothered!) However, his pediatrician's comment was that the signing is easier for him and thus he is not talking. This makes sense for my particular child since he has never been very persistent. For example, he was always a "lazy" eater (he would only take a bottle, refused to breastfeed, only sucked once milk started dripping out, took FOREVER to eat a bottle, etc...). Plus, he has never had any trouble with people doing things for him. Thus, for my child signing is O.K. for now, but I am trying to transition him into verbal language. However, for independent children signing is fabulous! Every child is different! Good luck!

We started signing with my now 4 year old when she was 8 months old. She never had the tantrums that babies or toddler have. We are starting to sign with my 9 month old, and the 4 year old thinks it is great that she can teach her little sister something. It did make life easier knowing that they know how to tell me that they are hungry, the tears stopped much sooner. It was nice knowing that they want more, or that they just want up. You start with those basic signs, and life is much easier. There is a very good book that was recomended to me called, Sign with your baby, by Joseph Garcia. It shows you how to get started, and talks about the benefits of signing. Good Luck

My son is now going to be 2 (in a few days) and we started signing with him from the start, 4 months anyway. I don't think there is too early a time to start signing with your child or even to your child. They may not have the dexterity to do the signs right away or exactly the way you do them, but when they get the ability then they already know the signs because you have repeated them so much. It's purpose is to give them a language and reduce frustration before they have the actual ability to vocalize. My son is actually a very well behaved little boy and we get comments about it all the time when we are out (really) despite his age category. He has an excellent vocal vocabulary. We have a lady who comes out monthly to test him and let us know where he is falling developmentally and he is exceling in all areas including vocabulary and problem solving skills. Both of which they attribute to his learning of another language (sign)and his lack of frustration because he has an effective way to communicate. He even makes up signs for things that he doesn't have the words for and we can usually figure out what he means, and give him the verbal word. As far as talking though, he started speaking real early and his can't be shut up now for anything ;)
It is proven that children that are stimulated developmentally early on in childhood are more likely to learn faster. If a child talks slower and they were taught sign language, then that is probably one of those children who developmentally would have spoken slower anyway- it was not because of the sign language or the lack of trying on their part. They just weren't ready more than likely. Your child is a sponge at this age. Read a ton to them, even if they aren't children's level books, interact with them and I highly recommend the PBS program "Signing time" and the book Baby signs.
Good luck,
C.

A.,
You should be doing whatever works best for you. If signing is something you personally would like to learn and use, then do it. If it sounds like too complicated or uninteresting, don't do it.

Signing is great because children develop motor coordination with their hands before they develop the oral motor coordination to talk. It can allow children to communicate before they are able to speak. Signing can also assist in language development because children experience successful communication and it allows babies who are very tactile to connect language with movement. Signing is by no means necessary though. Children have been learning to speak for centuries without signing without any ill effects.

Signing may help a child to develop speech earlier because they are more familiar with the meanings of words. It may also slow a child's speech because it is easier to sign than speak. Either way as long as you encourage speech as well as signing speech development will not be significantly impacted.

Whether you child continues to sign depends on you again and whether you continue to encourage and use signs.

Good Luck

Hi A.!

The purpose of signing is to give you a way to be able to communicate with your child and them with you before they are actually able to speak. The research that has been done shows that babies who sign actually speak sooner than their non-signing peers. Signing actually helps develop their language skills!

We have been signing with our daughter for about a year now (she is 19 months) and my mom was saying last week how much easier it is to understand her attempts at speech when she does her signs along with the word. For example, she says no more like 'mo' which is the same sound she does for the word 'more.' On their own it would be hard to distinguish one from the other, but with the sign for more or the shaking of her head for no, we know which is which instantly.

Please feel free to email me directly if you would like. I'd be glad to answer any additional questions you might have. If you are interested, I actually teach classes for parents, play classes for babies and parents, and have other materials for home use.

It all comes done to personal preferance. I had no use for it. My son was able to communicate his needs non-verbally just fine, without signs. But, I can see how some people would want to.

A.,
I have not done Signing with my children, However I know someone who did and the child talked later than children younger than her. She kept wanting to do the signs instead of talk. I guess you just need to do some research on the subject.
L.

I used signing just to help me communicate with my children. They didn't talk yet, but they knew what they did and didnt want. (you'll soon see this!) Without a way for them to communicate what they want leads to frusteration. With mine, I taught one child better than the others in signing (only a few words) and there was less screaming and tears because he could tell me what he wanted before he was a year old. NO, I dont think it hurts them when they start to talk, but like I said, i only taught them a few words (more, all done, thank you, please, juice) It is also nice now that they are older, they remember the signs for please and thank you, and when they need to say thank you to someone I'm not nagging them aloud saying "Now, Caleb, you say thank you to Nanna..." I just say "Caleb..." he looks at me and I sign thank you, and he knows what to do.... It keeps him from being embarrased and me from nagging him aloud. Just my opinons though....

We have done signs with our son since he was about 8 months old. He is now 21 months old and everyone is always saying how he talks so much and so well! He seems to have started using his signs less now, and words more. I think the fact that we say the word along with doing the sign has caused him to speak much more, and earlier than other children his age. I think signing is a great tool! I highly recomend it!

Well, I began signing with my daughter for two reasons. First and foremost, my husband's grandparents are deaf and I wanted her to learn early on how to communicate with them and the younger you start it seems the more they absorb. Secondly, it's a great communication tool for babies that are too young to talk and when they do get old enough to talk (but hard to understand) it's easier for them to communicate and for you to understand what they want (less frustration for both you and your child). I think the key is to say the word while using the sign. My daughter, she'll be 2 1/2 next month, talks very well and signs, I don't think signing hampered her speech development at all. I would highly encourage you to sign with your child if you're interested. There are some great books on it out there and now Baby Einstein even has a "Baby 1st Signs" video that just came out.

You don't have to do it unless you want to do it, but whatever you decided, I hope it works for you and your family. God Bless.

Signing has been a wonderful blessing for our family. We started with both our kids about 8-9 months. It definitely reduces the frustration of not being able to communicate verbally. My 3 1/2 year old still loves it...we have "signing time" dvd's that she loves to watch. She also loves to teach her 13 month old brother how to sign various things. Our little boy can easily tell us when he wants more and when he is all done, when he wants milk or to eat. He is also learning manners by using please and thank you. And it doesn't at all stunt their verbal skills. My daughter started talking quite early and already my son has his version of many words. I believe that it has helped encourage their speech! It really is a great tool. And it's up to you if you want them to continue with it as they get older. It really is fun and very helpful!

Signing is a very good way to help your child learn to communicate with you. I have read that it can actually help them later in life when they are learning to speak. It is just like learning another language and they say at this age it is easiest for them to learn second language. I would highly recommend it. It will help when she can't verbalize what she wants but can sign to you.

I have a five month old and I have been watching the Baby Einstein baby's first signs so that I can learn it too. They say you can start as early as 6 months so you could start teaching her now.
Good Luck.

signing lets babies communicate before they are able to talk. I did buy a book about signing for my daughter but she learned to talk so young that I never really taught the signs in the book. She is 15 months old and probably has 30 or more words taht she uses. (the average 15 month old has about 6 words in their vocabulary) Of course most of the words in her vocabulary are nouns - so that is not all that useful in communication. - she know how to say -more, up bottle, and night night... so those words are useful for letting me know what she wants.

signing will not confuse a child they will learn to talk when they should learn to talk. I think the signs they say to teach first are more, eat, and drink -- which are useful things for the child to communcatate with you..

the book that I got said to teach babies wehn they are 9 or 10 months old. and by then my daughter was talking.

it wont hurt anything to teach your chld a sign or two... but by the time she is old enough to sign- she will probably just talk.