At The Goddard School of Cedar Park, our faculty begin teaching sign language with infants. We’re often asked by parents how they can reinforce at home and join in the “signing fun!” Here’s a guest article by Tara Kendrick, owner of My Smart Hands – a program that teaches parents how to sign. She periodically comes to The Goddard School to work with our parents.
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As a new mom, I was worried about everything. Would I bond with my child? How will I comfort him? Will I know what he needs? Throwing myself into parenting books, I soon came across information on sign language. My fears diminished as I began to understand that using sign language with a child who is not old enough to speak allows a window into their world.
When my son was only 4 months old I began using the basic signs I had learned in my research; eat, more, and milk. As he began to pick up signs, I realized the benefits of using this wonderful language between mother and child. I remember my excitement the first time he crawled into my sister’s kitchen and patted his thigh. He wanted to know where the dog was!!! And he was only 8 months old. When my second son was born, I further developed my knowledge of sign language and was eager to talk to my friends about how much sign language had enriched my relationship with my children. It seemed a natural fit when I came across the program “My Smart Hands.” Now, as an Austin Mom and Business owner/instructor for My Smart Hands in Austin, I am able to teach others how to use this wonderful language.
There are several key areas that I stress to the caregivers in my classes. At the top of the priority is list is that signing with babies reduces frustration. Babies are able to make simple signs long before they have the ability to produce speech. When babies wave bye-bye or put their arms in the air when then want to be picked up; these are simple gestures, or signs, that baby uses for communication. Signing with your baby gives them the tools they need to communicate their needs to you before they can talk.
Another benefit is when teaching babies to sign they are exposed to more language than non-signing babies. Adults and siblings around the child tend to want to see what other signs the baby can do, and therefore he is exposed to more language stimulation.
Some parents express the fear that signing can delay speech. There is no science that demonstrates that signing will prevent your child from speaking when he or she is ready. In fact, many parents report that their child’s first words are often the words they already know the signs for.
Here are some easy steps to take when starting to use sign language with your baby, taken from the My Smart Hands workbooks, designed by Founder, Laura Berg, used in our classes.
1. Start with 2 to 5 signs- This is not for the child but for the parent. You can remember this many and consistently do them every time you use the word and then when your baby begins to sign back to you, you will feel good about your efforts and keep going! Start with signs like milk, more, mommy or daddy!
2. Introduce signing into your daily routine-For example, every time you offer the baby milk , use the sign for milk in front of the bottle as you are asking “would you like some milk”. They are now hearing the word, seeing the sign and seeing the object. Soon they will make the connection!
3. Be consistent- The more often you sign the word as you say it, the sooner the baby will begin to pick it up.
4. Use motivational signs- You can also sign objects or foods that the baby really likes. She will tend to want to try to sign banana a lot sooner since she would be motivated to tell you that is what she wants because it is her favorite.
Don’t give up!-Babies will start signing around 8-10 months, but sometimes it may take longer. If they aren’t signing back right away, it does not mean they will never sign. If you are consistent, they will get it and start signing to you more and more!
My Smart Hands Austin has classes around the city including Austin, Round Rock and Cedar Park. For more information about classes, times and Tara CLICK HERE
To find about more about The Goddard School of Cedar Park, visit their website or call 512-258-5292.
