Signing

Hi, I've noticed that alot of you talk about how signing has helped your LO's communicate when they are nonverbal or only speak a few words. I along with many other pp's (it seems) have been having to deal with alot of crying/fussiness/whining lately and I'm pretty sure it is related to their lack of words and being able to communicate as many members have suggested. Do you think it is too late to try signing and what is the best way to teach them (DVD or books)? THANKS!!!! If you can suggest any specific book or DVD titles that would be GREAT!

 

It is NEVER too late!!! Most people I have heard started with a few simple words. "more" is a common starting point. There are some websites out there that will show you what the sign looks like. I know there are videos out there too. Good luck! "milk" is another real good one. (like you are milking a cow)

 

It's NEVER too late and it's pretty easy to teach it to them and they seem to pick it up pretty quickly! What I did was just google 'baby sign language' and you can find many signs on the web. Then what I did was just emphasize the word when I said it to them, show them the sign at the same time and then just repeat, repeat, repeat....until you are sick of it!

 

Repetition.
Learn a few signs (drink, eat, milk, more) and then use them excessively. Your LOs will pick them up in no time.
Everytime you say the word use the sign.

We only have one signing book and its a board book for kids. Its called My FIrst Signs I really like it because it highlights the words that have signs that go with them and on the side it shows YOU the correct way to sign the word, and then it shows a picture of how your LO will probably sign it to you.

Best of luck! We started at 10 months and by 12 months my LOs were learning them faster than I could learn new ones!

 

We have this, too! I also really like this online signing dictionary. It has good demonstrations of how to do different signs. If a sign is too hard for you or your LO's to do, you can change it. As long as you're consistent, you don't have to use the exact "correct" sign. We started with milk and more because they are things that they want to communicate to you. Just try to catch their attention when they seem like they want more and then make the sign in front of your face so that they see you do it. After a while, they'll notice you doing it at certain times (more food, more books, more kisses, etc.) and they'll start making it back to you. All done, food, dog, cat, sleep, diaper change, and ouch are the main ones we are using/working on here so far, although now they are trying to say the words, too. I think they like doing both...signing and making the sounds the best they can and knowing we understand them. HTH!

 

We love the "Baby SIgning Time" series, as well as "Signing Time". You can often rent them from the library, too!

 

I'm giving the videos "Baby Signing Time" and "Signing Time" all the credit! I signed "all done" and "more" for MONTHS for them modeling, etc... but they never did it themselves until DH downloaded (shhh) these two videos. The girls love them! They sign ALL the time now!

 

We love signing here! and no it's not too late! I just went on Amazon and got a baby sign book with pictures that I could understand the sign. We started with one sign, milk. Mine started signing back at around 11months. Once they had one sign down, I would introduce another. Once you start doing this, they soak them up like sponges...they love to sign! It makes their life soo much easier too. You must be patient though. It will just happen one day..and it's exciting when it does.

 

I only signed "more" from 9 months on but at 14 months they didn't have many words so I started looking up signs and bought the "My Baby Can Talk" series. Now they have around 20 signs (that I can recognize). Never to late..

 

Great question, I am just starting w/ signs. I didn't start earlier, because I heard a lot of the time that it delays speech. But now that my kids are 15 months old, and still don't say a lot, I can't stand it anymore. I got a book from the library today, and I plan to look through it tomorrow, and pick out the most important one until they got it down. I just want the basics... like more, milk, eat, drink, sleep.