Baby Sign Language

Would you like to know exactly what your baby is trying to tell you through various "goo-goo's" and "gah-gah's", at only 6 months of age?

Baby sign language is the key. Before, infants develop the muscles required for speech, they develop the fine muscles in their hands. Therefore, infants are equipped to communicate with you through sign language before they can even speak. With the Baby Signs Program, babies and toddlers can communicate what they see, what they need and even how they feel by using simple easy-to-do signs for words like "Eat," "Milk" and "More." Research has shown that the Baby Signs Program decreases frustration, helps babies talk sooner, enriches parent-child relationships and boosts babies' intellectual development. Join other families around the world in discovering the joys and benefits of this revolutionary approach to early communication - start signing with your baby today!

All babies use their hands naturally in an attempt to communicate before they can speak. Your baby is likely to learn to wave bye-bye, clap her hands to express delight, shake her head to communicate "no" and point at objects that she wants. The problem is that the number of signs that your baby will use naturally without your help is very limited. Baby Signs can help fill that learning gap by offering you a resource to take advantage of this opportunity in a fun and entertaining format for both you and your baby to enjoy.

Infants taught sign language:

• Can communicate wants and needs to their caregivers at an early age
• Will have an earlier understanding of the English language
• May learn to speak earlier
• Could have an above-average ability later in life to learn a new language
• May possibly have a higher I.Q.

Parents who sign with their baby may experience:

• Lower frustration levels (for both parent and baby) because the baby can communicate with you
• Deeper bonding with their baby because they have greater insight into their baby s mind
• A higher level of trust from their baby because he or she knows that you understand what he or she is trying to tell you
• Satisfaction. What a great feeling it is to know that you can effectively communicate with your pre-verbal infant

In revising the Baby Signs Dictionary, we asked parents to help us make a list of 100 things that their babies need and want to "talk" about. Using our knowledge of babies' motor development and the advice of our colleagues, we carefully evaluated the motor complexity of the ASL sign for each of these concepts. As a result, our Baby Signs Dictionary now includes many ASL signs that both express important concepts and are easy enough for babies to do. In many cases the Baby Signs Dictionary itself includes more than one sign suggestion so you can choose which works best for your baby. The Baby Signs Dictionary can be found in the revised edition of our book, Baby Signs: How to talk with your baby before your baby can talk.

By encouraging their babies to use signs, parents can help them get a jumpstart on learning to talk, thereby increasing the chance that they will be comfortable talking with their peers as they move into the toddler and preschool years.

Another plus when it comes to peer interaction is the effect of signing on aggression. Because the ability to use signs enables children to get their needs met through calm communication, they are less likely to feel the frustration that so often fuels biting and hitting during the toddler period.