Parents have always
wanted to be able to
communicate with their
children right from
birth. Their feelings of
helplessness in times of
crisis or stress can be
very frustrating. Do not
despair or panic. There
is now baby sign
language.
When baby cries
incessantly and mother
is unable to make out
what he wants despite
checking the diaper for
wetness or touching
forehead of baby to
check if he is hot and
feverish, she can now
use baby sign language.
What is Baby Sign
Language?
• It is a new way of
communicating with baby
using hand gestures, and
common objects and
actions associated with
words.
• Mother would have
been showing her baby
many actions and objects
visually and orally
while handling him and
his needs daily. She
would have associated
all the actions and
objects she says to him
with signs or hand
gestures
.
• She could also have
been getting baby to
touch the objects or
feel the actions with
his hands and legs.
• Parents now have an
added avenue to get baby
to communicate what he
wants besides the true
and time tested ways of
being able to only check
on his needs physically
or by instinct. The
learning abilities of
baby are present before
and at birth and are
based on their senses of
sight, sound and touch.
They can quickly
associate what they
hear, see and touch with
the signs mother uses
daily while caring and
playing with him.
How do you Teach Baby
Sign Language?
• Teaching this
communication skill is
mainly through modeling.
• When you link
simple words with signs
baby can see, hear and
feel what you are doing.
He might be too young to
mimic you but he is
learning the meaning of
what you are trying to
tell and teach him.
• Always make your
signing and articulating
natural. Never force
baby to learn the sign
language you are using
to communicate with him
because you are overly
keen and anxious to
relieve his pain or meet
his needs. Let nature
take its course and
allow baby to associate
actions, words and
objects with signs in
his own time.
• As he develops and
can use his hands, legs
and facial features
better, he will already
know the signs to use to
communicate with you
even though he cannot
speak. For example,
whenever you are about
to give baby a bath sign
and say "bath" and make
an easy sign like
pointing to the soft
bath towel or his tub.
Make sure baby can
clearly see both the
object and sign so that
he can easily remember
them. Start slowly and
add more signs and
objects gradually.
• Another good word
to teach is "happy".
When you are rubbing or
massaging baby gently,
singing to him, or doing
anything that makes baby
relaxed whenever he
seems to be very upset
and is crying loudly,
pause regularly and say
"happy", before
continuing to rub,
massage or sing.
Teaching your smart
baby sign language makes
him a smarter baby. By
the time he learns to
speak, he would already
know how to use his
repertoire of words to
tell you his needs and
wants.
Enjoy Motherhood.
Pat
