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 ow you know that your baby is ready to sign - and you can't wait to get started. But there's still a bit of work for you to do before you can actually begin. You're not the type of person who puts a bike together without looking at the manual, are you?
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A. INTRODUCTORY GUIDELINES
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| Because babies are different in so many ways, teaching your baby to sign is not an exact science. What we provide are recommendations and techniques that have been successful with a large number of babies. Signing with your baby should be an easy and natural process. We encourage you to "customize" our recommendations according to your own baby's temperament and your family's lifestyle. But in order to achieve your goal, there are ten guidelines that are essential to your baby's signing success.
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Ten Critical Guidelines for Success: |
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- Speak as you sign, emphasizing the target word every time. Remember, your ultimate goal is verbal language.
- Sign within your baby's sight line - and as close to your eyes as possible.
- Smile and use maximum facial and verbal expression to help convey the meaning of the sign and the word.
- Be consistent. Once you start to sign in a particular situation, do not stop.
- Sign only in context. Do not show off your baby's signing ability to anyone - unless it is in context. Your baby has to associate the sign with getting results.
- Remember that repetition is key. Your baby must see and hear a sign over and over. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
- Introduce signs only when you have your baby's attention, never when he is teething, cranky, tired or otherwise out of sorts
- Reward your baby's efforts. Get excited when he makes - or attempts to make- a sign. Clap and cheer him on!
- Have patience. Your baby will learn to sign - but only when he is ready. A lack of patience will only sabotage your efforts and your level of enthusiasm.
- Don't expect perfection. Your baby may not be able to imitate your signs exactly as you make them. Since your goal is communication, not perfection, praise your baby even if he comes close.
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B. HOW TO MAKE YOUR BABY UNDERSTAND
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| Before your baby can begin making a sign, he must first make an association between the meaning of the sign and the sign itself. Regardless of what sign you want to teach, your first objective is to create a way for your baby to understand what the sign represents. To teach a sign, you must first teach its association.
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There are two methods to teach associations:
Introducing some signs is similar to teaching some words. You simply point to the object and say its name. That same technique can also be utilized with some signs. You point to or pick up an object, say the word and make the sign. If you repeat it enough, your baby will make an association by IDENTITY.
But what happens when you want your baby to understand (and ultimately communicate) an abstract concept like HELP or MORE? Certainly, there is nothing you can point to. In those cases you must create an action, activity or demonstration that will help to convey its meaning. If you repeat the action often enough, your baby will make an association by ACTIVITY. |
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C. THE FIRST SIGNS TO INTRODUCE
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The first signs you will introduce to your baby are the signs for MORE, EAT and MILK. (Visit your signing dictionary to learn how the signs are made.) They have been selected as ideal introductory signs for several reasons:
- The signs are important to your baby. In fact, in the beginning stages, they are all that he is interested in!
- The signs are visually distinct. As you will learn, the signs do not look alike and won't confuse your baby.
- MORE is a versatile sign with many applications. Your baby can use this sign to ask for more food, more of a game that you are playing, more of a book that you are reading etc. It is one of the most popular signs a baby uses and it is fun for parents because of its wide range of use. (In other words, you won't get bored.)
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How and When To Begin…
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Now that you know what signs to introduce, the next question is when and how do you do it? Because it is important not to bombard your baby with too much - too soon, we recommend the following timetable:
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6 months and 1 year, If your baby is between start with one sign - MORE. Once he masters that sign and you are convinced that he understands its meaning, introduce the other two signs to him (but not at the same time). |
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If your baby is older than 1 year, introduce all three signs - but not all at once.
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D. SIGNING DEMONSTRATIONS AND TECHNIQUES
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Introducing the Sign: MORE
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| It is time to learn how to teach your baby the sign for MORE. As you know, you must first teach the association. Since MORE is not something you can point to or pick up, you must convey the meaning of MORE to your baby with an action or activity. |
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Demonstration:
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It is lunchtime and your baby normally eats an entire jar of baby food. To teach the sign for MORE, give your baby 3 of 4 teaspoons and then stop. Naturally, he will become anxious and want more. Then you begin to help your baby make the association - by simply making the sign for MORE and at the same time asking, "MORE? Do you want MORE?" Continue this process throughout the meal, making sure that there are enough "feeding stoppages" so that the idea begins to register with your baby. Do this all the time, throughout every meal - and your baby will eventually make the association. Repetition is your key to success.
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Now let's expand the concept. Here are some other ideas:
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- Read a book to your baby. Stop at certain intervals, look at your baby and ask if he wants MORE. (Make sure that he can see you make the sign.) Repeat several times throughout the reading, always asking, "MORE? (sign) Do you want me to read MORE? (sign)" Repeat.
- Tickle your baby. Or nuzzle his belly. Stop. Ask/sign if he wants MORE. Repeat
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| Introducing the Sign: EAT |
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| As with the previous lesson, in order to learn the sign for EAT, your baby will have to make the proper association. While you can point to someone eating, your baby will make a faster connection if he experiences it firsthand. Therefore, you will teach an association by activity.
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Demonstration: |
| It's suppertime and your baby is in his high chair watching you prepare his food. You can tell by his behavior that he is getting excited about the prospect. You sit down in front of him with a bowl of strained vegetables and BEFORE you begin to feed him you ask, "EAT? (sign) Would you to EAT?" (sign)
Did you notice the difference between EAT and MORE? With EAT you made the sign a number of times BEFORE feeding your baby. Why is that? It's common sense, really. If you stop and start throughout the meal to teach the sign, your baby will get EAT and MORE confused. |
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Now expand this concept. Here are some other ideas:
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- You don't have to wait until your baby gets in the high chair to help him make the association. When you get your baby out of the crib and dressed before breakfast, make the sign for EAT before you leave the room, asking him if he is hungry and wants to EAT (sign). Then make sure you take him directly to the high chair so he makes the connection. On your way there, ask him that same question a few more times. Remember to speak and sign every time.
- Surprise your baby when it isn't mealtime by asking him if he would like something to EAT. Repeat a few times, then produce a cracker so the meaning is reinforced.
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| Introducing the Sign: MILK |
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Note: The sign for MILK is often used as the sign for NURSE. You can use either word when speaking. An alternate sign for NURSE is the hand quickly brushing the breast in a downward motion. Use whichever sign you are most comfortable with.
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When you introduce the sign for MILK, you have a different type of association to make. MILK is something your baby can see and touch (a bottle or a breast). The association your baby now needs to make is one of identity.
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Demonstration:
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| Before you give your baby a bottle or your breast, you will ask, "MILK? (sign) Would you like some MILK?" (sign) Follow the same method as with the previous sign, repeating the question a few times. Then you give him your bottle or breast.
Now you have another opportunity to help him make the association. During his feeding, while his attention is focused on you, you can reinforce the sign by asking, "MILK? (sign) Do you like MILK?" (sign) While it may be difficult to feed your baby and sign at the same time, ask your spouse or other family member to sign and say MILK while your baby is feeding, making sure the sign is made within your baby's sight line.
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| Move to Module VI - ADDING NEW SIGNS |
