Now that you have decided you are going to teach your baby sign language you may anxiously want to see results and progress quickly but let's not forget some brief but important key points to succeeding.
1. Take It Slow
Begin with one sign a week so as to not overwhelm and confuse your baby with too many signs too soon. Once you baby has learned that first sign move on to the next sign. The time will fly by before you know it.
2. Begin With Important Signs
Begin with words that will help you decipher what your babies needs are and then their interests. Start with words such as food, milk, drink, more, done, hurt (or owie as my daughter calls it) and so on. As they grow turn you signing towards words that will be useful when playing games or any other interest they may have such as cars, trucks, or ball, etc.
3. Keep It Fun
Chances are if you are not enjoying learning and teaching sign language to your baby, you won't keep at it. If you are frustrated with it, likely your baby will feel that frustration as well. One thing I love to do is sing with my children (although I'm not a good singer my babies never seemed to mind). I learned and taught my babies signs for farm animals. So, when I sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" I use the signs for the farm animals and they picked up on that and do them when we sing. It's fun and just becomes second nature to do while singing. Use the signs when reading to your baby or playing with a ball (sign "ball").
I've even noticed my children sign even when I am not signing back to them. They sign animal names when watching or listening to things like "The Wiggles" and "Sesame Street" or "Blue's Clues".
4. Don't Expect Perfection
Don't expect your baby to be able to perform the signs correctly at first. In fact, they may use the same sign for more than one word but you will figure out what they mean don't worry about that. You may even decide to use a modified version of the American Sign Language (ASL).
5. Be Patient
Signing like any thing else you learn takes time and practice. Don't expect to learn it all and teach it all in a few days or even weeks.
6. Be Persistent
As the saying goes "Persistence pays off". Keep trying at every opportunity to use sign language and soon it will just become second nature to both you and your baby.
7. Involve Every Family Member
Make it a family affair. Not only will this help your baby learn the signs by repeatedly seeing the sign when the word is spoken but it will also build a bond between all family members. Sharing and signing together.
Keeping those key points in mind, start now building a special bond with your baby and opening the so important line of communication.
About the Author
Nanette Gomez is owner of
www.BabyTalk-Learn2Sign.com Your online resource for information and products to help you teach your baby sign language and
TheMommyCircle.com ~ Helping you find little ways to make and save.
