How to teach infants and toddlers to use simple sign language

<p>The most useful sign language to learn, especially for infants and toddlers, will describe the things your baby most often sees, does or wants. The “I love you” sign is common.</p>

Prot Tachapanit, Dreamstime

The most useful sign language to learn, especially for infants and toddlers, will describe the things your baby most often sees, does or wants. The “I love you” sign is common.

Baby sign language is a trend that seems to have real staying power. Signing with babies is based on the simple observation that children can be taught to use their hands to “talk” long before their mouths can catch up.

From what we’ve seen, infant sign language really does deliver on its promise of improved communication. This is particularly appealing for new parents, given that there’s a well-recognized gap between what babies and toddlers want to say and what they are capable of saying.

It only makes sense that young children who lack the verbal skills necessary to say what they want, feel or need experience frustration, especially in the period between 8 or 9 months (when babies start to really know what it is they want) and 18 to 24 months (when they typically start to speak their mind).

If basic sign language can help babies use their hands to better express themselves at as early as 8 or 9 months, it can mean the bridging of this otherwise months-long communication gap.

Signing with babies can also offer an opportunity for plenty of positive interaction, and anything that increases parent-baby bonding is a good thing in our book. One creative idea we love: Start adding signs to popular baby songs, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”

There’s nothing wrong with teaching young children to “recite” the ABCs of sign language, but the most useful signs, especially for infants and toddlers, are going to be those that describe the things your baby most often sees, does or wants.

There are lots of videos and primers online to help you learn signs for certain words. Just search online for “baby sign language” for help getting started.

It’s easy to see why so many parents swear by baby signing, why many child care centers include it in their infant and toddler classrooms, and why it has become so commonplace as an activity of daily learning. Here are five big-picture tips to get you started:

Be patient

The baby-signing trend is based on the observation that babies taught simple signs at 6 or 7 months of age could begin using them to communicate as early as 8 or 9 months. You don’t have to wait until your baby turns 6 months to get started, but be realistic in your expectations for true signs of success.

Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t get the signs quite right or doesn’t pick them up immediately. Remember the goal here is to have fun communicating and to lessen frustration.

Speak up

Be sure to still talk to your baby. As long as signing does not take the place of speaking, it won’t get in the way of your baby’s learning to talk with their words as well as their hands.

Make it a habit

As with much of the learning your baby will be doing, repetition is key. For a better shot at success, make signing a daily habit and use the same signs each time for what is being conveyed.

Tapping your fingers on your lips could convey “eat,” for instance. Bringing the fingertips of both hands together can signal “more.”

Sign what you see

Use signs to describe routine activities and common objects that make up your baby’s world as they happen.

Share your signs

Be sure you share your signs with your baby’s other caregivers so that everyone can understand once your baby begins to sign.

If your baby’s child care provider is going to be the one teaching your baby sign language, be sure to ask for a quick tutorial.

Beginning sign vocabulary

Start with these words when teaching your baby sign language, and you’re sure to get the conversation going. Search “baby sign language” online to find instructional videos for learning these signs.

  • Airplane
  • Baby
  • Ball
  • Bird
  • Blanket
  • Book
  • Cat
  • Cup
  • Cold
  • Daddy
  • Diaper
  • Dog
  • Done
  • Drink
  • Eat
  • Go
  • Goodbye
  • Good night
  • Happy
  • Help
  • Hot
  • Hurt
  • I love you
  • Milk
  • Mommy
  • More
  • Nap
  • No
  • Outside
  • Please
  • Sit
  • Sleep
  • Thank you
  • Up
  • Water
  • Yes

Dr. Laura A. Jana is a pediatrician at the Penn State University Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, and the author of more than 30 parenting and children’s books.

Dr. Jennifer Shu is a pediatrician at Children’s Medical Group in Atlanta, and the medical editor of healthychildren.org, the website for parents from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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