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The New Baby Talk
How many times have you looked at your baby -- especially when he was fussing or wailing -- and desperately wondered what he wanted? Like most parents, you probably resigned yourself to living with the mystery: After all, it'll be months before your child can say that he's thirsty or tired, or that he wishes you'd read him a story. But what if there was a way the two of you could communicate much sooner?
That's the idea behind Baby Sign Language, a collection of simple gestures that children can begin learning and using well before their first birthday. It's easy and fun to teach -- and it can bring you closer to your child.
A Helping HandBaby Sign Language was invented in the early 1980s by Linda Acredolo, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis, and Susan Goodwyn, Ph.D., a professor of child development at California State University at Stanislaus. At the time, Dr. Acredolo's daughter, Kate, was not quite a year old, "and we noticed she was making up signs for certain objects," Dr. Goodwyn recalls. "If she saw a flower, for instance, she'd point at it, wrinkle her nose, and sniff."
Intrigued, Dr. Acredolo and Dr. Goodwyn developed Baby Signs, a formal sign language for hearing babies that includes more than 100 gestures. Some of them are from American Sign Language (or ASL, the language of the deaf); others are baby-friendly modifications.
In 1996, the professors released a book, Baby Signs, to wide acclaim. Nowadays, baby-signing classes are offered at hospitals and community centers nationwide. Part of the reason it's popular, though, is that no formal training is needed. The simple guide below can get you started.
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I am in 100% agreement with shelbydvnson and artist192...I don't agree to make up signs (that accomplishes nothing but confusion). I am teaching my daughter from Signing Time and Baby Signing Time as that program uses ASL and not just made up signs. I am signing up to help teach the correct signs to babies and parents so there is NOT ANY CONFUSION!!! Thank You
10/13/2011 04:46:41 PM Report AbuseI started to sign with my baby @ about 1 month and @ 3 months old she signed her first sign "milk".It was sloppy and I wasn't sure it was deliberate but after she did it a few times I became sure.I've only taught her a few words; milk, up, laydown, more.The down side is anything she wants is "milk". They say kids sign their first sign around 9-12 months.Either they didn't start early enough with the signing, or my kid is brilliant!Maybe a little of both!
7/28/2011 12:58:31 AM Report Abuse"baby sign language" - an inappropriate term -- is not invented or new. It has been around as old as speech language and it has been used by signing families for thousands of years. It's an inappropriate term. It should be "Baby Talk in ASL (or in English or any language). Especially, most parents use words, NOT language, ironically. Silly and so much ignorance in the hearing world.
7/27/2011 03:57:20 PM Report AbuseI think that it is important to teach ASL if you are going to do this and not just make up signs. ie: dog is signed by patting your leg (or pat and snap), not by panting with your tough out! You don't want to confuse your child!! Why would you just make up signs? To sell books and make money?
7/27/2011 12:06:51 PM Report AbuseIt's recently come to light in special education studies that teaching the sign for "more" is not a good idea. It becomes a catch-all phrase and can be a substitute for verbalizing requests long after a child is physically able to speak.
7/27/2011 10:07:06 AM Report AbuseMy 14 month old uses so many signs/gestures we can hardly keep up with her! It thrills her when we understand her & I feel, has cut down on tantrums & frustration. It's easy to teach & I absolutely recommend it to caregivers. And my daughter's spoken language is awesome as well which I contribute to the signs.
7/27/2011 09:56:54 AM Report AbuseSue I tried to get on your website but no luch is .webs.com right? Grammy
6/8/2010 10:30:05 AM Report AbuseWe've used the Baby Sign Time Videos - they are just 30 minutes and my baby loves them - we started them at age 9 months and she still loves them at 15 months. She has learned A TON of vocabulary and over 50 signs!
2/10/2010 11:43:19 PM Report Abuse