SignBaby FAQ
What benefits will signing from an early age offer my baby?
Well, apart from reducing communication frustrations in pre-verbal children, there is very clear evidence that learning a second language often results in a higher than average grasp of language and in the ability to read and write. This is especially true if the second language is carried on through childhood, with many children scoring above the average in language aptitude tests.
When can you teach your baby to sign?
Any time! But you need to remember that babies won’t start signing back to you until they’re at least 6 months old. Most babies will start signing back between the ages of 7 months to 12 months.
The big advantage with signing is that they can often achieve signs before their mouths can achieve intelligible words. They will often be able to tell you in sign what they want or what they’re thinking well before you can understand their speech.
It’s never too late to start teaching signs. In fact if your baby is a toddler around 1 year to 2 years old, you might find they’ll pick it up very quickly and you’ll be having signing conversations in no time. It’s also a great way of introducing new words in sign that the toddler might not be able to say yet.
When will my baby sign back to me?
Not until they’re at least 6 months old. Most babies will start signing their first sign back between 6 months to 12 months. The younger they are, the longer it takes generally for them to sign back. However, if you start when the baby is 12 months old, don’t be surprised if they sign back in a matter of days.
Is sign language difficult to learn if you’ve never done it before?
No. Not at all. It’s really easy! Especially if you start slowly with just one or two signs to begin with. It will take time for you to get used to signing and it will take time for your child to make the link between the sign and the object. As you get more comfortable, you can gradually add in more signs as you go along. You’ll find signing with your baby is actually a lot of fun if you take it slow and easy. And you might find your baby LOVES it!
What signs is my baby going to be most interested in to begin with?
Mostly, anything to do with eating yummy things! MILK & MORE are often, time and time again, the very first signs babies master, as getting
MORE MILK becomes very important to them if they’re still feeling a bit hungry. MORE also translates into MORE of anything that is fun to do. Then there are the regular things in a baby’s life that you can sign over and over again, like BATH, SLEEP & TEDDY. But be prepared that your baby might decide to do something completely different; I knew one baby whose first sign was HELICOPTER.
I have grouped the signs into categories to reflect your baby’s likely growing interest in the things around them – starting with the very essential and simple signs to the more complex and fun signs.
How should I use sign langauge on a daily basis?
Use the sign every time you do the task. For example, at bath-time, you can sign BATH every time you say the word: You need a BATH now! I’m filling up the BATH, for your BATH. BATH time finished now! You can do the same for different signs, just using the single sign within the sentence you normally say to your baby. It’s as easy as it sounds!
Will using Baby Signs help reduce my baby’s frustrated melt-downs?
I found that my little boy had far fewer tantrums than many of his peers did, and on further investigation, many parents who used signing with their children have told me their children were the same: by using signs the infants could express themselves quickly and easily.
As parents start watching out for their baby's signs and listening for the corresponding word, they also become adept at “reading” their baby’s body language, and sometimes they are able to avert tantrums before they take hold.
Adapting Auslan to fit tiny hands
A baby’s hands take time to develop, just as their speech does. When they’re very little they can really only make three basic hand shapes; the fist, flat hands or pointing. In Auslan there are unlimited basic hand shapes that can become quite complex, so signs can be slightly modified so very young children can manipulate their hands easily to make themselves understood. Most of the signs presented are simple and easily done with only a very few signs simplified but still based on the original Auslan sign.
Otherwise, almost 100% of the signs shown in the DVD are Auslan signs as used by the Australian deaf community today.
Will signing to my baby slow down speech development?
There is absolutely no scientific or empirical evidence that this is the case. In fact, many parents tell experts that the opposite is true. Most practitioners working in the area of language and speech development agree with the parents, as they have seen the results for themselves.
Our first attempts at communicating involve basic gestures.
When children learn to sign it helps them develop the skills necessary for good grasp of language, and perhaps even more importantly, it fosters a good connection with the people close to them, which is the cornerstone of all good communication.
Research has also shown that learning to sign can pave the way for a larger vocabulary at earlier ages, as being able to sign encourages linguistic pre-development.
My child has special needs. Will signing help me communicate with my child?
It does depend on the needs of your child, but for children with autistic spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, or other disorders that may affect communication skills, signing has been consistently shown to work where other methods may have stalled.
In the SignBaby DVD, speech therapist Sarah Starr states that she uses Auslan in her practice with children who have delayed speech across several disorders. She has found signing an essential key in building a bridge to these children and seen how signing can revitalise the communication between children and their families.
If your child is deaf and has an implant or hearing aid, signing has been shown to help their speech acquisition, and NOT hinder it as is commonly believed. Signing also becomes essential for those times when your child can’t wear a hearing aid or implant; when they’re in the bath, swimming or when they’ve taken it off for other reasons.
Is sign language universal?
No. Each country has their own form of sign language; even the English speaking countries have different sign languages. The origins of Auslan lie in the emigration of British Sign Language via the convict fleets of 200 years ago. Auslan has since evolved into its own unique, recognised language. SignBaby is all Australian, so you don’t have to worry about your child having a British or American accent on their hands!