Thread: Baby sign language

We've been discussing baby sign language, its pros and cons. My mother is a speech pathologist , and knows and sees validity in the camps that think it's a useful tool for teaching communication language development, and those who believe it is a hinderance to speech development. She has flipped on the issue a few times, herself. Anyone have any experience with it?

My dear wife just sent me this (she's home from the office today with the child)

Your baby can learn sign language!
Here's how to say:
• "Please change my diaper": Turn beet red and make straining expression, then smile.
• "I'd like something to eat, please": Cram fist in mouth and suck wildly.
• "I'm tired": Make a series of weeping gestures before closing eyes and lolling head backward.
• "Please pass me that thing up there that I can't reach": Point and grunt, then continue pointing and open mouth into screaming position.
• "No thank you. I think I've had enough": Throw food or object to floor with exaggerated grin.

Haven't laughed like that in a little while.

My wife and I taught both our kids signs or rather acceptable gestures for words.

DVDs help like Signing Time and Baby Einstein. Books, IMHO, are crap. They basically say find a sign that says what you want to say.

Fish = Hand flat, like your going to smack someone. Then make a horizontal swimming motion forward like a fish.

More = two fists clapped together.

Food = Fist tapped at the mouth

Daddy = Finger tapping to the top of the head

Mommy = Finger tapping chin

Bear = Make a full hand scratch motion with one hand.

Want = Both hands opening and closing.

Really, this does work and leads to earlier language development and an overall happier kid, cause they can get across what they want and are not that frustrated. YMMV based on the kid and the stick-to-itness of the parents.

Some good friends of mine did all the DVDs with their kid. She was signing very early on and even started making up signs for words before she could talk. She is now in preschool and in addition to English, she is becoming fluent in Japanese (due to being in a Japanese preschool).
Now, whether that's because of the sign language, because she's a smart kid, because both of her parents are brilliant, or because kids just soak up language at that age, I can't tell you. But it certainly hasn't hurt.

I had never heard of baby sign language before.

If the idea is to teach them how to sign before they're at the age to speak, I don't really see any advantages to doing it. You're "turn beat red and then smile" list was funny, but that's essentially all signing is -- a physical means of communication. If parents are able to understand what any of the "funny signs" of a baby's wants and needs, what's the sense in trying to get them to sign like a chimp?

Their needs very basic at that age (food, sleep, fresh diapers, sleep) - wait until they can learn to speak a language.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

My wife and I taught both our kids signs or rather acceptable gestures for words.

DVDs help like Signing Time and Baby Einstein. Books, IMHO, are crap. They basically say find a sign that says what you want to say.

Fish = Hand flat, like your going to smack someone. Then make a horizontal swimming motion forward like a fish.

More = two fists clapped together.

Food = Fist tapped at the mouth

Daddy = Finger tapping to the top of the head

Mommy = Finger tapping chin

Bear = Make a full hand scratch motion with one hand.

Want = Both hands opening and closing.

Really, this does work and leads to earlier language development and an overall happier kid, cause they can get across what they want and are not that frustrated. YMMV based on the kid and the stick-to-itness of the parents.

The finger tapping you on the head brought to mind the TV show the Dinosaurs, with the baby whacking the daddy with a frying pan while saying "Not the Momma!".

We taught our kids to use sign language for the simple things you already mentioned. She could comunicate with us before she was one year. It gave her a head start and she spoke in full sentences by the time she was 2.

Trust me if you are a parent you will appreciate sign language and the lack of headache.

Nothing and I mean nothing is more frustrating that having a child stare at you and scream for something or grunt and point into thin air or a box of toys.

Signs allow a child that has not developed speech to talk and get what they want.

Kids have complex thoughts and no real way of expressing them without parents developing a drinking habit.

Giving a child this tool makes everyone's life easier.

Look at it this way. If you are in a country that doesn't speak your language. You can point or make a motion for something. That is sign language. You are communicating your wants without knowing the language. You may understand a little but not enough to effectively communicate.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

I had never heard of baby sign language before.

If the idea is to teach them how to sign before they're at the age to speak, I don't really see any advantages to doing it. You're "turn beat red and then smile" list was funny, but that's essentially all signing is -- a physical means of communication. If parents are able to understand what any of the "funny signs" of a baby's wants and needs, what's the sense in trying to get them to sign like a chimp?

Their needs very basic at that age (food, sleep, fresh diapers, sleep) - wait until they can learn to speak a language.

Spoken like atrue bachelor!


Actually, speaking words is a difficult task. Signing is much simpler, and thus a very effective first step in quality communication. Just the basics "more", "I'm tired", "all done", etc alleviate a lot of frustration for child and parent both.

Well, if it managed to shut 'em up every now and again, I guess it'd be cool. But I imagine they're not going to cross their arms and pout to signify frustration. They're still going to throw a whining temper tantrum. It's just more satisfying to toss stuff around and scream.

My brother and sister-in-law taught their infant son sign language. I guess it's the latest fad thing to do. At about the time he should have been vocalizing requests or responses to his parents, he refused and signed instead. He even signed to those of us who did not sign or understand sign language. My wife and I saw this as counter productive to good language skills development and over-all a ridiculous thing to do to a non-hearing impaired child.

Well, at least we saw it as more of a gimmick and a waste of time. He seems to be communicating fine now. But the signing just seemed to give my nephew one more way of frustrating his parents, and everyone else.


Scott