Thursday, November 6, 2008

Baby Sign Language

I have been doing so much research on the traditional baby security blanket, that sometimes I get a little side tracked. Today I really got onto something that is of special interest to me.

I read an article by Wendy Owen that I found extremely interesting and I'm sure you will also. Baby sign language is so new, yet it has always been there.

Even when the baby's hand waves in the air, he is trying to tell you something. They have control of their hand movements at a very young age, and with today's knowledge of baby sign language we are able to understand them, and teach them a way of expressing their needs.

Take a few minutes out and enjoy Wendy's article. Check out her site also, it is extremely helpful to the new and soon to be new Mom.

Baby Sign Language - Can My Baby Talk to Me? By Wendy Owen

Baby sign language is making parent's lives easier all over the world. Have you ever tried to soothe your crying baby and felt frustrated that you couldn't understand what she really wanted?
Well you're not alone. In fact, many parents feel the same way. It's difficult at times to know what your baby really wants, and it's not only frustrating to you, but it's frustrating for her as well when she can't communicate what she wants. Baby sign language involves teaching your baby basic sign language that will help them to communicate their needs, but you may be wondering - can your baby really communicate in this way? According to new studies, baby sign language is actually quite effective. It all got started with a researcher, Joseph Garcia, who spent some time studying how a baby communicated with his parents who were deaf. The 10-month old was able to communicate fairly well, even at that young age, with his parents. After observing how this worked, Garcia began to promote his sign language for parents who had normal hearing. Believe it or not, most babies actually can pick up the baby sign language rather quickly. In fact, it's easier for babies to sign at a young age than it is to talk, since they have better control over their hands at an earlier age than they do the muscles in their mouth and tongue. You can actually start teaching babies sign language when they are about six months old, although some are starting even younger. Parents have been amazed at how quickly their babies picked up on the signs. Teaching baby to sign takes away a lot of the frustration for babies. Instead of having to scream hoping that their parents will figure out the problem, it gives them the freedom to communicate what they need, which is a huge help to both of you. Some parents are concerned that teaching their baby to sign is going to make them develop language skills at a slower rate. Well, according to studies, this is certainly not the case. In fact, studies show that babies that are taught to sign actually start speaking more quickly. Some signing babies even show a higher IQ later in life. Baby sign language can be easily taught to your child. There are excellent classes available that can help you to work with your baby, although some parents choose to teach their baby to sign themselves. For parents who decide to do this at home, there are many helpful resources available. You will need a baby sign language chart and an instruction book. Flash cards with pictures are another useful tool. If you are tired and frustrated at the lack of communication between you and your baby, then baby sign language may be a great choice for you.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Owen

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I taught my little one sign language using some video lessons made by Laura Berg, she's an infant signing expert in her own right (who has also done some work with Joseph Garcia). Watching her daughter, Fireese, sign is so inspirational. You can learn more about her and her online video lessons at:

http://www.mindbites.com/person/84-MySmartHands