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Got Sign?
10 Tips to Help Teach Your Baby Sign Language
By Nancy Cadjan, Certified Baby Sign Instructor
Ready to teach your child sign language? Got that overwhelming feeling you've bitten off more than you can chew? Relax. Signing with Baby is an amazing and easy experience. Here are some tips to help!
1. Choose a few signs to start and learn more as Baby grows. The best signs to start with are "milk," "more" and "eat" because these signs are very different from each other and are relatively easy for babies to make.
2. You can introduce more signs, but stick to basic needs, as that is what your baby's life revolves around. Most babies are not interested in colors, numbers and shapes until much later. Eating, sleeping, personal hygiene and things Baby is interested in all make great things to discuss. Try "apple," "banana," "sleep," "change" (as in diaper change) and "bath."
3. Sign in context. Show the sign while you are interacting with the concept or object. For example, you can sign "milk" while feeding your baby a bottle or while nursing. Or, if your baby eats solid foods, sign "eat" while Baby eats. The reason to do this is that babies live in the here and now. They don't have a good way to conceptualize things not present. So don't confuse them by signing something that's not "here" for them.
4. Say the word and use vocal emphasis. Signing with Baby does not mean being silent. Actually, parents who sign find they talk more with their child. The best way to encourage speech is to talk directly to Baby. Speak clearly as you sign and give added vocal emphasis to the word or words you are signing so Baby gets the connection between the word and the sign.
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