When Can I Start Signing with My Baby?

07/28/2014

We have another great blog from our guest author, Tanya from My Smart Hands. There are a lot of great benefits to using sign language with your little one. However, one of the main questions parents have is when they can start signing with their baby, here is Tanya’s great answer to this common question.

When Can I Start Signing with My Baby?

Tanya with My Smart Hands Saskatoon is often asked the question, “When can I start signing with my child?” The answer is never the same for each family, as each parent has their own reasons for using American Sign Language with their child.

Most baby & toddler sign language instructors recommend waiting until your child is between the ages of 4 to 6 months of age. Children are meeting important milestones during this time including: eye contact, purposeful movement of arms/hands, and beginning to find new ways to engage with their parents such as squealing, smiling, cooing and babbling. Parents may decide to start signing earlier or later. In fact, Tanya has had children as young as 2 months up to 2.5 years of age in her classes. Basically parents can start signing with their baby or toddler when ready!

Based on child development, babies are ready for signing when they start moving their eyes and head to track toys or their parents face. This shows they are interested in learning and ready to start communicating with you! When you start signing, your child may show you many new reactions. This could be a frustrated or confused face, an interested expression, moving their hands in different ways, or smiling. These are all good indications that your child is trying to figure out what you are saying with your hands. Keep using American Sign Language and soon your child will be signing back!

A key point about signing, is to be consistent! Start signing with 2-5 words, consistently during the day. However, add more in every week as your child is wanting to learn more.  Finally, watch your child for signing approximations and when they start signing or moving their hands to approximate a sign, reward them with praise or what they were asking for!

Our next blog posting will be “How Can I Start Signing with My Child?”

Join My Smart Hands Saskatoon’s Facebook page for more information related to baby & toddler sign language, child development and upcoming classes.

Happy Signing,

Tanya Myrfield-Wolfe- BSW, RSW, Certified Baby Sign Language Instructor, & Parent Educator

My Smart Hands Saskatoon