- Why should I teach my baby to sign if he is not hearing-impaired?
Because babies have lots to say, even before they can talk! What better way to learn what your baby wants, needs, and feels, than to communicate with them in a language you can both understand? Through signs, your child can tell you if he’s hot, cold, sick, sad, or hungry. He can tell you about the dog he sees at the park, the airplane in the sky, and all the other things that he’s thinking about but doesn’t yet have the words to say. - Do you use ASL in your classes?
Yes, most of our signs come from American Sign Language, but some have been modified to make it easier for little fingers! Some ASL signs require more dexterity than infants and toddlers have, which is why the Baby Signs® Program is so helpful -- it is geared toward your child’s abilities and things that are familiar to them. - Will signing discourage my child from learning to talk?
Not at all…in fact, studies have shown that teaching signs can help children learn to speak sooner! Signing enhances language and vocabulary development, jumpstarts early literacy, and builds an enthusiasm for learning. - When should I start signing with my baby?
You can start from the day they are born! Babies who were taught signs from birth have been known to sign as early as 3 or 4 months! However, many parents prefer to wait until their child is closer to 6 - 9 months of age. - When will my baby to start signing back?
This will depend on your child’s level of interest in communicating, development of certain skills (memory, imitation, attention), and how consistently the parent models the signs. Sometimes a child will sign back within days or weeks, and for others it can be a few months. - Is Baby Signs® a proven, research-based program?
Absolutely -- in fact, it is considered to be the world’s leading sign language program for babies! The Baby Signs® concept was developed and thoroughly researched over 20 years by Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn, professors in psychology and early childhood education, and authors of Baby Signs: How to Talk With Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk. Studies were funded by an NIH grant, and the results were all positive: learning signs as an infant or toddler showed enhanced social, emotional, and intellectual development, and even an increase in standardized test scores and I.Q. levels in later years! - How do I know which class to start with?
If you are a new or expecting parent, you will want to take the informative Baby Signs® Parent Workshop. This workshop runs about an hour and a half, and gives you all the tools you’ll need to get started signing with your baby! It also includes a wonderful Parent Kit filled with resources so you can continue to sign with your baby at home.
If your baby is around 6 months old (up to 24 months), you might want to take the Parent Workshop first, and then sign up for the Sign, Say & Play™ Class. This is a fun, interactive class where parents come with their little ones, and we read, sing, dance, play, and learn signs at the same time! You also receive a wonderful Parent Kit (in an adorable child-sized backpack) to take home so you can continue to sign with your baby at home.