Why Do Babies Sign Some Words And Say Others? ~ Chris

Posted on October 2, 2013 by chris

You might find it curious by what happens when your signing baby starts to talk.  They’ll pick and choose which words they say and which they sign.  For example, my signing baby signs and said MORE, DAD, BIRD and several others, but would say “banana” just as soon as he could.  I guess he just found the sign too cumbersome and the word easier to say.

That’s the beauty of teaching signs though because there will be some sounds that your baby will find difficult to say out loud.  So instead of handcuffing your baby like non-signers, your baby will have options.  This notably expands their vocabulary and gives them a more complete mastery of their environment.

When most words are easier to say than sign, then signs will get dropped.  It’s not that your baby doesn’t like to sign or wont so long as you do, it’s just that saying words is so much quicker and easier for hearing babies.  By nature, we’re a pretty lazy species, so if and we shortcuts present themselves, we inevitably take advantage.

Instead of holding your little guy back, encourage them to speak up and exercise their voice just as you did as they learned to sign.  Signing was never meant to replace talking, it was merely a stage to work through.

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It’s Fun To Do Sign Songs! ~ Chris

Posted on September 25, 2013 by chris

It’s fun to do sign songs but thankfully my wife does them for our son on my behalf!  I think she’ll admit that she’s not perfectly tuned either, but the audience doesn’t seem to mind.  The combination of action and excitement is enough to fool the critical eyes of babes!

I’m lying a little bit though, when Mom is off at work, I have been known to sign for my son prompted by a rhyming book, but thankfully this stays between me and my guy.  Tight lips…but his signing gives our secret away so I sing quietly in his ear when I’m too embarrassed to sing out loud and Mom is within ear shot.

Babies love to hear their parents sing to them and if you teach them signs, will ask for a lullaby at random throughout the day.  I encourage you to find your voice and sing and sign to your baby.  Our online course has plenty of songs to choose from, but even if you don’t sign up, you can find plenty of free songs online to get you started.  While you sing, keep in mind that you don’t need to sign every single word as some might recommend.  Just sign the important, or key words, in each sentence.  After a few tries, have your baby copy your gestures and have them sign along.  You’ll be totally amazed by how quickly your baby figures out the patterns in the song and signs along with you (no matter how off key you are).

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Baby Signing Makes Other Parents Feel Inadequate ~ Chris

Posted on September 11, 2013 by chris

We live in a very competitive world.  Parenting is no exception (in fact it might be one of the most competitive arenas) and as it turns out baby signing can bring out nastiness in people.  I’ve witnessed this several times and usually from parents who mean well – however sad this tale is.  Since parents want to do well for their children, upon hearing that your baby signs, some parents will find it necessary to point out reasons why you shouldn’t.  When you set the record straight, and talk about all the benefits to signing, you’re usually left with one very confused parent.  On the one hand, the parent wants to do well, but on the other they feel like they “can’t” sign with their baby.  Some parents won’t sign just because they feel it to be too difficult or they feel like they might appear foolish in front of their baby or others.

At other times, it’s hard to pin down exactly why a parent won’t teach sign to their baby, but the result is all the same – a baby and parent who is missing out.  You have a parent who is doing things in a way that is far more difficult than it needs to be.  I’ve talked at lengths in this blog about why signing should be taught – and there are no shortage of reasons, however, there are some people that no matter how many ways you present the benefits to signing, they still won’t.  I fear it has to do with pride and ego.  Some parents just want to do it their way and aren’t confident enough to adopt someone else’s ways – even if it’s better than theirs.  In a way, this is sad.  True, these parents will get by, they might even raise exceptional children, but this isn’t the point.  Why avoid a tool that is so valuable, so readily available, and so easy to implement?  Because of ego?

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Things To Keep In Mind While Signing To Your Baby ~ Chris

Posted on September 4, 2013 by chris

You’re the model: Be excited and animated.  If you are bored, your baby will be too.  If you want to capture their attention, use big movements and exaggerated facial expressions.  You want your baby to watch you and want to imitate you.  Pretend you are on your own television show!

Try different things: If you aren’t going out into the real world, then your baby’s life will become monotonous (and so will yours).  Take your baby to the store, to the park, on various errands like the doctors office and even restaurants.  There’s no reason your baby can’t tag along with you.  It’s the best way to teach various signs!

Encourage any effort:  Act happy and applaud your baby when they do signs.  Clap, jump up and down, hug them!  Anything you can do to tell them they are on the right track will make signing happen quicker.

Be patient: Signing can take a long time for a baby to get the hang of.  Just because your baby isn’t signing, doesn’t mean that they aren’t learning and benefiting from watching you.  Many times, a baby will watch a sign without making it known they are even paying attention only to replicate the sign independently when you least expect it.  There’s more to signing than just baby signing back.

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Are Baby’s Smarter Because They Sign? ~ Chris

Posted on August 28, 2013 by chris

The short answer is “no.”  However, that doesn’t go without qualification.  Studies have shown that signing drags communication levels forward.  In fact, a baby taught to sign will be a full year ahead of another who hasn’t by age 2.  That’s a significant improvement.

Up for debate is whether or not a baby really is smarter.  By best measures, signing can add up to 10 IQ points.  If you trust this measure, then babies who sign are smarter, but I think there’s more to it than this.

In my opinion, signing is an indication of your baby’s knowledge.  Signing is an exhibit of the things they know, the things they are interested in and their personality.  Signing shouldn’t be about making babies smarter, this is something I will argue vehemently.  If you’re in it just for the IQ points, then you’re going to be in it for the wrong reasons.  Yeah, these are nice side benefits, but the true benefit will come from connecting with your baby.  To this aside, you’ll also be better able to manage your baby because you’ll know much more about their desires and needs.

So while studies show that babies measure higher in vocabulary and communication skills, and even IQ, I don’t think that babies are smart just because they sign.  I think a lot has to do with the significant increase in the quality and quantity of time they spend interacting with adults.  If signing is the excuse you need to interact with your baby, then go for it, but by all means interact with your darling for all the right reasons.

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