Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Baby Signs

Brian and I have recently decided (ok... I decided and communicated the decision to Brian) that we want to teach Allison baby sign language. When I was young and naieve (about 2 years ago!) I just thought it was silly... why teach sign language? By the time your baby could understand and use the sign they'd be talking enough anyway, right? I've realized how INCREDIBLY wrong that thinking was. Talking by a year or 18 months? What on Earth was I thinking?
Anyway, we decided to try and it has been so much fun. We're just starting on signs for "milk", "eat", "more" and "please" (I want a polite child). The sign she sees most often is "milk" and she's really starting to understand it, I think. When we sign it to her she gets to excited and then gets mad if we're not quick enough with nursing or a bottle. She's also starting trying to make the sign herself. She'll watch her hands and make the sign, then look at us and get to excited and proud of herself. I can't wait to watch her continue to learn how to communicate with us. =) Anyone else (maybe with older kids) have thoughts on signs that would be useful to teach her? I'd LOVE to hear them!

8 comments:

Nancy said...

I posted about this once, here. I haven't been very diligent about it, but maybe I will start up again. We usually only sign "potty" because I want her to recognize when she goes.

Maybe we'll start up again :)

Nancy said...

In case you don't want to read what I wrote, I really like Born 2 sign. :)

Krystal said...

I think "thank you" is a good one also. my sisters kids use "more" and "please" the most though. I think it's also fun to teach them animal signs, with the words and noises :)

good luck! let us know how it goes! I can't wait until katryn is old enough to learn sign

Anonymous said...

I would recommend signs that have to do with activities you like to do together. If you like to read, teach "book." My son likes balls, so we taught him that one too.

Crys said...

Some kids really pick up on the signing thing some don't. Our little guy used a few signs pretty consistently. Mine, more, please. Our neighbors kid had probably thirty signs. I guess you just do what you can do...Just be consistent with saying, doing and responding :)

heather b. said...

My son is now almost 3 and he still signs. We learned together by watching Singing Times DVD's. My husband and I sign to each other we want to communicate in a situation when we can't talk to each other.

I am all for signing...it is suppose to help eliminate tantrums because the babies/toddlers can sign and tell you what they want even though they can't talk.

I need to start teaching my daughter now that she is 6 months old I think it is about time.

Rosie said...

thanks for the tips! Great site Nancy!

Bonnie Parks said...

I don't have anything to say about signing except I think it's great! But I do want to say that I love how you said that you decided and told Brian. Sometimes I'm good about making decisions with Matt. Other times I am really good at deciding for us and informing him. He rarely minds. Either we are really like-thinking on parenting so far or he's open to trying whatever I think. Or he's totally humoring me. However it is, I like it.