Reader Questions ~ Chris

Posted on August 30, 2017 by chris

Do girls sign more than boys?

As near as I can tell no specific study has shown anything conclusive with respect to signing and gender.  It is general knowledge that girls tend to be more advanced speakers than boys, but of course there are exceptions to all rules!  Baby’s of either sex who are talked to more often do tend to pick up language faster than ones who are rarely talked to, and baby’s who are signed to, tend to have parents who also talk and interact with their little boys and girls more.  This helps bring them forward and strengthen their inherent skills setting them apart from non-signers.

Do babies sign to each other?

It turns out that babies tend not to sign very often with each other preferring to “parallel play” instead.  Parallel means they will play alongside each other, but not directly with each other.  Toddlers and babies would much rather interact with adults than with their peers.  This is likely nature’s way of helping children along at a more accelerated rate.  You can imagine that an adult is a better teacher than a toddler!  However, babies and toddlers will still sign with each other, just not as often as with parents.  You might be amazed to see your little signer use SHARE, MORE and even PLEASE and THANK YOU with other baby’s and toddlers.

Posted in Baby Signing Q&A | Leave a comment

When Is It Too Late To Introduce Signs – Signs And Toddlers ~ Chris

Posted on August 23, 2017 by chris

I’m biased, so naturally I’m going to say that it’s never too late!  However, I will be fair to say that the 10 month mark is the best time to introduce signs and at around 14-18 months you’ll receive the fullest benefit to signing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get great benefits by starting later or earlier.

When signs are taught to toddlers, they can often pick them up instantly.  This is great for parents who aren’t as patient.  I’ve successfully taught my nephew who was just over 2 years old, 3 signs inside of 10 minutes – to both our delight.  Not all toddlers begin speaking right away, so this can be a Godsend.  You can teach any sort of sign you want to a toddler, but I would recommend signs that motivate your toddler (words that interest them), as well as signs that make their life easier.  These can include signs for things like HELP, UP/DOWN, PLEASE, THANK YOU, SLEEP, FRUSTRATED or any other word they habitually use, but can’t say verbally clearly enough.

When my son turned 20 months, he used the sign for FRUSTRATED often as he struggled with his building blocks and his front-end loader.  We taught him the sign after we visibly notice him getting upset by not being able to work the toy how he wanted to.  Doing the sign for HELP and FRUSTRATED helped him voice his concerns and virtually eliminate his outbursts by giving him an outlet.  Grandma was sure impressed when she witnessed our interaction.  This was a clear example of how tantrums are a direct result of not being able to make their thoughts known.  While a casual observer might see the interaction as a result of not being able to accomplish a task, the very fact that doing the sign-communicating the discomfort eliminated the outburst.  It was the outlet that provided the solution to the tantrum.  Doing a sign provides a toddler with an means to get what they want, and while all people must deal with discomfort, not being able to talk about it, makes it far worse.

The FRUSTRATED sign also came in handy during potty training, because our son had difficulty pushing on the toilet.  He transferred the sign right away and so we knew when it was time to take him off the potty and let him go in his diaper.

Toddlers also have a very limited spoken vocabulary and since signs can be added almost instantly, you can quickly expand on what a toddler can say.  Many toddlers have trouble making certain sounds so signs can be added as replacements for words your toddler finds difficult.

Whenever you introduce signs, just make sure to sign and say the word in tandem and be consistent and sign each time you say it!

Posted in Baby Sign Language Techniques, Baby Signing Q&A | Leave a comment

Common Signing Concerns ~ Chris

Posted on August 16, 2017 by chris

My baby was progressing, but recently she has stopped signing completely, it’s as if she forgot how to sign.

Not to worry, your little girl has probably just been more interested in another task.  She’s probably working on crawling or walking or is just taking a break.  Now’s not the time to give up signing because if you do, she’ll have nothing to model when her mood comes back around.  Continue to do the signs as you have been doing and pretty soon, your girl will start to sign once again.

My spouse doesn’t think this is worthwhile.  How to I convince my family to help?

Bring up the research and show them how signing has all upside and no downside.  Teach them a few signs and what they mean so they can help should the mood strike them.  If that doesn’t work, ignore them and do it solo!  Why?  Well because once your baby starts to sign, I promise you that they are going to have to learn to sign or they will have no idea what your little guy is saying!

We speak two languages in the house, will my baby be confused?

Studies show that children who grow up in houses with more than one language tend to pick things up a little bit slower than children in a one language household, but this is not to be of concern since learning multiple languages is a wonderful opportunity.  What you might consider is only signing with one language instead of trying to sign with both.  This will keep the confusion down and help your baby bridge the gap between both languages.  Just remember that your baby has a powerful ability to decipher patterns and with enough time will figure it all out!

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 is give toddlers who have minds that are advanced, but with 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 which eliminates outbursts such as kicking and screaming.

Posted in Baby Signing Q&A, Troubleshooting Baby Sign | Leave a comment

Common Baby Sign Questions ~ Chris

Posted on August 9, 2017 by chris

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?

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 and more neural connections.  Not to mention the fact that signing uses both the left and right hemispheres so gives a baby more power to access language!

Posted in Baby Signing Q&A | Leave a comment

The Alphabet Song And Baby Signs ~ Courtney

Posted on August 2, 2017 by chris

I’ve been signing and singing the Alphabet Song to my baby every day since he was 6 months old.  At first I made it part of our lunch routine and sang/signed to him in his high chair.  Once I went back to work, I would sing/sign it to him during our bedtime routine in between stories.  More recently, I’ve made it part of our bath routine.

While he has always loved music and actually stops and points to the radio when certain songs come on (His personal favourite is “Hollywood” by Michael Buble!), he has never really shown an interest in the Alphabet Song.  Except in the beginning when he would grin as I sang to him in his high chair, I think he heard this song so often that it became part of the background for him.

However, before I started singing and signing last night, my son said “B” and put his hand up!  Of course the little monkey has been paying attention all along!  I tested him after singing and he knew the sign for A and B and could say most of the letters.

We preach persistence here, but sometimes it gets frustrating when your baby isn’t signing back.  Needless to say, he might just be saving up to surprise you one day and all your efforts will pay off!

Posted in Baby Signing Activity | Leave a comment