Baby sign language is the practice of communicating with a baby or toddler using signs and gestures-usually using American Sign Language signs. The idea behind it is that a bany can use basic signs much sooner than she can form recognizable words vocally.
Do you have to use American Sign Language?
No, you can use any signs you like. The important thing is that you, your child and any caretakers for your child all know the same signs. In our house, however, we use American Sign Language because it makes more sense to us. When I decided to travel down this road I decided that if I am going to put in all the effort of giving my daughter communication skills in this way, I might as well make it as useful as possible to her. If down the road we decide to pursue sign language, American Sign Language is often recognized as a second language so we will have a good grounding in the basic vocabulary of the language-not a bad place to start (note: there is much more to ASL than learning a few signs. American Sign Language is its own seperate language from English and has a seperate grammar system)!
I also recommend teaching real American sign language because it is easier to keep track of signs. As a real language, American Sign Language has many references available-for free or pay-to help keep track of what each word means. In a made up sign language you will be responsible for remembering all the signs and what they mean. I can personally say that my 14 month old goes through phases of interest. Sometimes I will learn a sign to use while I talk to my daughter and then go months without using it again and have to look up a word again.
Lastly, I recommend American Sign Language because there are just more resources available to help guide you if you use it. There are options such as flash cards, posters for the wall, books and DVDs targeted to babies and toddlers learning sign language. Such resources can be great for reinforcing sign language, but if you make up your own signs then it is highly unlikely you will find any ready made resources like those.
Why teach baby sign language?
There are any number of advantages to teaching baby sign language. The big ones include reduced frustration and fewer tantrums for the toddler, increased verbal vocabulary by age 2, increased self confidence, and it helps to form a stronger bond.
Lowers frustration and tantrums-a lot of toddlers try to communicate a want or need with a caretaker, only to find the caretaker has no clue what he wants. As you can imagine, this is very frustrating to him and soon he goes into a tantrum of frustration. Knowing sign language, of course, won't illiminate tantrums-when you know what your toddler wants and tell him "no," he is still going to have a tantrum. My daughter isn't quite to the age where tantrums are common, but I can honestly say that if my daughter does have a tantrum then it is because she is REALLY tired. Even if my daughter does not know how to sign something, she is becoming quite skilled at communicating her want or need nonetheless. It truly amazes me at how efficient she is at telling us what she wants.
For example, she hasn't quite mastered "diaper" yet, but the other night when daddy was watching her she goty husband's attention, then walked over to the pack n play (it has a changing table where we always change her), and pointed to the changing table. My husband checked and sure enough she needed a diaper change. She also will tell me when she wants her face wiped and when she wants to play my phone. Her sign for "play phone" was a tricky one to figure out, but because Pumpkin is confident that I will figure out what she wants she kept trying. Since I didn't understand the sign she had made up, and she couldn't see my phone to point, she went and found her fisher price apptivity case and brought it to me for me to give her my phone. If you notice in the story though, her first attempt was to use her hands to try and sign what she wanted. When she makes up a sign, I try to learn the proper sign and sign the correct ASL sign back.
Increased verbal vocabulary by age 2-Contrary to what you might expect, learning sign language does not cause a language delay, and actually is widely believed to help develop language skills faster. The idea is that learning to communicate increases the baby's desire to communicate more. I can't vouch for this personally as my daughter is not yet 2, but I can say that my daughter is on track in all of her verbal milestones and uses her sounds to try to say the words while she signs.
Increased self confidence-When your toddler can successfully communicate what she wants to you, she feels good about herself. Just think of the message you are sending-"hey, what you have to say matters."
Helps form a stronger bond-I'll admit I don't think I've read this last benefit anywhere, but it is my favorite part of signing with my daughter. My daughter and I are learning a language together (sort of-as I said, unless you learn the grammar too, you are not fully learning a new language, but at this age toddlers aren't known for impeccable grammar skills anyway). I can understand her without guessing. I am amazed at how much she knows that I otherwise might have missed. She has known that a dog's bark comes from a dog since before she was one, and let me tell you-she LOVES dogs. We have 2 of them and she is always asking to see them or telling me where they are! I've also learned that she likes to have the kitchen lights on while she eats-even in the daytime. It really is amazing to be able to communicate like this already!
When should you start teaching sign language?
It is never too early to start teaching sign language. You may start as young as you like, but to avoid some frustration I wouldn't expect your child to sign a whole lot before at least 8 months. I started learning some signs and signing to my daughter for fun when she was around 2 months old. My daughter didn't REALLY start signing until around the one year mark. There were occasional signs when she was a baby, but it wasn't like she does now. However, I'm glad I started learning so early because it allowed me to really develop the habit of signing in my daily life. I've occasionally been caught signing to people that are NOT my daughter because of my habits.
How do you teach Baby Sign Language?
It takes a LOT of of time and consistency to teach a new sign in such a way that Pumpkin starts using the sign. I have been successful teaching my daughter her signs just by using them in day to day life, but it must be EVERY time. Now, I'm not perfect-no one is-so I'm sure in a day I forget to sign as I go sometimes, but to teach "milk" I had to sign "milk" everytime I nursed Pumkin for weeks. Same with "All done." I used the sign everytime she seemed to be done eating and right before I started washing her up to get back to playing. She will recognize words and signs earlier than she can communicate them usually, but it definitely is a commitment to teach a baby to sign. I found it is important to be patient and have fun. I've found it helpful to sign because I enjoy it, and not so much with the focus of counting vocabulary words or trying to formally teach a word. I want communicating to be a positive element of o
ur life, not a stressful one, so if you go this route, keep it light!
Helpful resources:
-free: lifeprint.com offers a free course in American Sign Language for anyone interested in learning the full language and a free ASL online dictionary if you are just looking up words to use with your child
-DVD: Signing Time and Baby Signing time. These brands also offer a number of useful tools like board books, posters, and flash cards. We recently ordered two of the Baby Signing Time dvd's for Pumpkin for Christmas, so we will soon see how it goes.
-book: Baby Sign Language Basics by Monta Z. Briant-this is the book that got me started and I highly recommend it. It has a lot of useful tips and ideas for how to get others involved in signing and fun ways to incorporate signing to your day.
