Many parents will notice their baby making gestures long before they can speak. The gestures they make may or may not be accompanied with babbling noises. Researchers have suggested that these gestures are evidence that infants are capable of communicating long before they can speak. So how can you utilize the capacity to make gestures to enable your baby to communicate? Below you will find some basic information on baby sign language, as well as, a few signs to get you started.
What is Baby Sign Language?
Baby sign language is a sequence of hand/arm gestures that provides your child with an ability to “talk” to you without speaking. This tool is something that must be taught to your child and requires dedication and repetition There are several ways to help cultivate the use of baby sign language in your infant, but one of the most important is to keep things fun. Being playful, praising progress, and remaining focused on motivating signs (starting with things your baby needs) can all go a long way towards helping your child to learn. You can also work on expanding their vocabulary by teaching them signs based on their interests.
Benefits
While there are tons of benefits to teaching your baby sign language, one of the most practical is that there is no more guesswork about when your child is hungry, sleepy, or uncomfortable. Simply put, your infant is actually communicating with you. Additionally, there have been studies done to suggest that teaching your little one to sign aids in brain development and can result in them speaking earlier and having a larger vocabulary. There are even reports that it can boost your kid’s IQ by 12 points or more.
Starter Signs
With this understanding of baby sign language, you are probably wondering how you can get started teaching your child how to sign. There are a variety of resources available (paid and unpaid) that will guide you through the entire process. However, for some families, it may be easier just to utilize some starter signs and see what you can accomplish. Below are some resources that include some beginning signs you can teach your child.
http://www.babysignlanguage.com/dictionary/first-signs/
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/baby-sign-language-words-to-know
https://www.disneybaby.com/blog/teaching-your-baby-how-to-sign-and-15-starter-signs/
http://www.parents.com/baby/development/sign-language/baby-sign-language-starter-signs/