I’m the only one signing to my baby, is this going to be a problem?
No, it just might take a little bit longer to get your baby signing back. Repetition is the key to teaching sign language, so the more hands you have working and helping, the better. I absolutely encourage single parents, or parents with unwilling spouses to keep at it. If your spouse isn’t interested, I promise they’ll make an about face when your little guy starts to sign!
My baby is in daycare and they don’t sign, will my baby be affected?
No, lots of people won’t sign to your baby, and it won’t bother him all that much. Plenty of other children will and won’t speak to your baby too, and that doesn’t bother them! Kids are hardy creatures and adjust to any environment they happen to be in. By the way, have you considered locating a daycare service that does use sign?
My baby is over two years old, can he still benefit from learning sign language?
Yes, absolutely! Babies as old as three have been shown to benefit from signing. Signing stimulates both motor and verbal centers in the brain which leads to stronger memory and more increased neuronal connections. Not to mention the fact that signing uses both the left and right hemispheres, so gives a baby more power to access language!
Is it true that signing eliminates the terrible twos?
There is some truth to this, but eliminate it completely? Not likely. What sign language does do, is give toddlers, who have an ever increasing understanding of the world but limited vocabulary, a much improved chance to speak up about their wants and needs. Naturally, this gives a toddler more appropriate avenues to express themselves. This serves to reduced outbursts such as kicking and screaming.
How do I get my baby to sign faster?
That’s easy, just keep signing! Sign as much as you possibly can, but limit the amount of signs you do. Just keep repeating the same signs in as many different contexts as possible over the course of the day. Your baby needs to see an individual sign 20-30 each and everyday for at least two weeks before your baby will pick it up.