Table of Contents:
How To Teach Your Infant Sign Language
What About Using An American Sign Language Alphabet Chart?
What Is The Most Common Baby Sign Language Sign?
What Is The Best Baby Sign Language Book?
The Benefits Of Baby Sign Language
What Are The Disadvantages Of Baby Sign Language?
How To Teach Baby Sign Language
When To Start Baby Sign Language
Although books are a useful tool for learning, sign language is a three-dimensional form. Therefore, the best way to show signs is through a video format. This is because each sign has a position to the body, a handshape, and a movement. Those three things are best shown in a video format. I've attempted to write several books in sign language using drawings with arrows to show movement. However, the best programs I've created have been the video programs that actually show the signs being made in real time.
How To Teach Your Infant Sign Language
The best way to teach your infant sign language is to not “teach” but to “model” the signs during normal daily activities. My “Baby Sign Language in 14 Days” program is designed to do just this. It divides the signs into the kinds of things needed to be communicated during common daily activities.
What About Using An American Sign Language Alphabet Chart?
Young babies do not have enough dexterity to form the various alphabet shapes on the hands. Once the child matures to the point where they can manipulate their fingers, then they can begin to learn the various symbols for the alphabet. I created a book called Dr. Joseph Fingerspelling Book that helps children learn to identify letters, make those letters on their hands, and then combine those letters to form words. From that experience, they then learn to read. My fingerspelling book has been very popular in kindergartens, and many teachers have expressed that their students become competent in spelling 1st and 2nd grade words during kindergarten. They feel this skill is based on learning fingerspelling through my book. Children do this without having to learn or study anything. The children are just having fun and see it as playtime.
What Is The Most Common Baby Sign Language Sign?
The most frequently used baby sign language sign is the sign for MORE. See the video at the end of this blog. It's an easy sign to make and babies usually want more of something. Once shown and used a few times babies learn this fast and this sign gives them a way to express the desire for more.
What Is The Best Baby Sign Language Book?
I published the first baby sign language book in 1996. It was based on my research around infant/parent communication during my graduate research at Alaska Pacific University and the University of Alaska. The book quickly became Amazon's best-selling book because it was based on research and the concept was new. Since then, lots of books have been printed that offer various options for learning to sign with babies. However, few if any of them are based on research. Therefore, when I am asked, “which are the best baby sign language books?” I believe that those based on research are going to be best.
Baby Sign Language vs ASL
To discuss the difference between baby sign language versus ASL – the two languages are very different. Similar to baby sign language, ASL doesn't sign every single thing that you say in English. With baby sign language you sign the topic word of a sentence and/or sign the most important aspect of each thought or concept, which is the way babies communicate anyway. As babies develop and their language skills increase, they start to understand all the elements of the various languages and start to slowly fill in the grammar elements of that spoken language.
The Benefits Of Baby Sign Language
Of all the benefits that come from having sign language as a communication mode between a parent and a child I think the biggest benefit is the fact that babies learn to draw on their internal resources to communicate with the world and affect their environment. There are many benefits of baby sign language that have to do with basic communication. However, the most important aspect is that babies develop an attitude that allows them to begin to control their environment through their actions. That's an important attitude to develop early in life.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Baby Sign Language?
During my 34+ years at the center of the baby signing revolution, I have encountered no disadvantages to communicating with a pre-speech baby through signs. If anything, there are many benefits.
How To Teach Baby Sign Language
First of all I don’t TEACH baby sign language to infants, I MODEL signs.
Notice that I used the word MODEL when I refer to showing signs to babies. I never use the word TEACH. I strongly suggest that we do not try to “teach” babies anything. The best, most enduring and sensitive way for babies to learn is by observation and seeing examples in everyday life. Babies quickly pickup on patterns and structure.
By being consistent with modeling signs at the appropriate times allows your child to associate the sign to the action, object, or feeling to which you are referring. Your spoken word or words (if you are speaking several languages) can accompany the signs. Your child will learn the sounds that the words make along with the motions that come with the signs for the meaning you intend if you provide the regular and steady use of the signs and spoken language. The amazing thing is that through signs, many languages can be acquired and made clear by using the signs and the common link among all the spoken languages.
When To Start Baby Sign Language
I recommend that you begin to model the signs to your baby when they reach their 4th month. Don’t expect any response for several months. Babies need to observe and then process the images they see and associate those images with the actions and words being heard or the signs used while life is taking place. That process takes a couple of months. Once the communication process begins, babies tend to learn quickly and will begin to use their new skills to affect their surroundings.
