Ellie Learns to do Things: Sign Language

Published in The Packet.

Now that my daughter has made the connection between waving bye-bye and someone leaving, we’ve been trying to teach her sign language.

To some, baby sign language is just another nutty parenting fad, or a comedic device in the Ben Stiller movie Meet the Fockers. I believe the benefits of improved communication with your baby or toddler is worth the extra work involved in teaching your baby sign language.

Children develop their hand-eye coordination long before they develop the ability to verbalize. Baby sign language proponents believe that the lag between wanting to communicate and the ability to communicate through speech is one reason toddlers are so prone to tantrums. They are frustrated by their inability to tell you what they need. Teaching babies simple signs for words like “eat,” “drink,” “cracker,” “more,” “dog,” and “play” makes communication easier, reduces tantrums, and builds vocabulary and confidence. Sign language has also been shown as beneficial for older children with speech delays.

I saw the impressive results of signing first hand when visiting my nephew last week. At sixteen months, he is able to produce 27 signs including “on” and “off,” “light,” “please,” “thank you,” and “cookie.” He is even potty training early because he is able to sign to his mother when he has to use the bathroom. Most parents have fun speculating about what is going on in the mind of their baby or toddler, but my nephew is actually able to share the things he notices and thinks about by signing.

His mother has been practicing signs with him since he was born. She learned them herself through websites, books, and videos. By using them routinely, her baby picked them up over time. She is consistent and careful to always say the word as well as make the sign, so that she fosters language acquisition both verbally and physically through.

Our little girl hasn’t picked up sign language quite as quickly as her cousin. When signing “daddy” to her, which involves bringing your thumb to your forehead and keeping all your fingers straight, she looks at us like we are crazy. Usually, she ignores us when we use signs and carries on emptying the cupboard of pots, or chewing the spine of her books, or chasing the dog. However, within the last few weeks, things are beginning to click for her. She now signs “more” and “all done” when she is eating, as well as “bird,” “dog,” and “cat.”

There are many free products and videos online to help parents and children learn sign language. A quick Google search reveals a wealth of information. I’ve also purchased a few products that are very helpful. The book Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk by Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn does an excellent job of explaining both the research done on children who have learned sign language at an early age, and the techniques of teaching sign language. My baby enjoys reading board books by Susan Goodwyn that have pictures of other babies doing signs. We especially love watching the very entertaining and musical Baby Signing Time! DVDs together. All of these products can be found on Amazon.ca.