| Every parent knows that in the early years of | | | | you are giving them a leading edge in the real world. |
| parenting, communication between you and your child | | | | As an adult, being bilingual makes you a hot commodity |
| can be difficult. As a new parent we try to decipher | | | | and extremely marketable. Although the numbers are |
| our baby's cries. Are they hungry, tired, sleepy, lonely, | | | | growing, companies love hiring multilingual employees |
| uncomfortable? It is a constant challenge to figure out | | | | because they are few and far between.American |
| what our child needs. What if there was a way to | | | | Sign Language can be learned in a variety of ways. |
| bridge the communication gap between you and your | | | | You can you can go to the American Sign Language |
| baby? Some say there actually is!Baby Sign Language | | | | online dictionary here: This is a great tool and it is free! |
| has recently become a hot topic among new parents. | | | | The signs are shown as a video; which many people |
| Parents and caregivers, with much success, are | | | | find more helpful than trying to figure them out by |
| learning sign language in hopes to better communicate | | | | reading a diagram. There are hundreds of words to |
| with their children. Tess, mom of 11 month-old Julia | | | | choose from, so you will be able to look up any word |
| says, "It's easy, fun, and makes communication a lot | | | | that will be helpful when communicating with your child |
| less stressful for the whole family! Who wouldn't want | | | | in your daily activities and routines.There are some |
| that?"I have personal experience working with children | | | | other great websites that will help you get started: |
| using sign. I started teaching my 2 1/2 year old signs | | | | |
| when he was 5 months old. I am also currently | | | | |
| teaching my 8 month old. I feel it made a huge | | | | are also many programs for purchase which are |
| difference in my first child's daily experiences. It | | | | geared towards children. I recommend Joseph Garcia's |
| fostered communication and curbed temper tantrums. | | | | SIGN with your BABY Series because it uses ASL |
| The way I see it, the less time and energy a child | | | | and it is a great tool to help you and your family learn |
| spends being upset, the more they can spend on | | | | some basic signs. This program can be found here: |
| learning!Research has shown that babies who sign | | | | importantly, as you start out, I recommend teaching |
| have faster rate in their development of speech and | | | | your child the signs that will be most helpful to you and |
| language skills, increased intellectual skills and higher | | | | your child as you go through daily routines. Some |
| self-esteem. A study by Drs. Acredolo and Goodwyn | | | | useful signs that you may want to start with include, |
| found that signing children outperformed non-signing | | | | more, eat, and help. A few others that are useful: drink, |
| children in comparison, after comparison. Babies who | | | | change (as in diaper) or toilet, sleepy, please, yes, no, |
| sign have also been found to be able to understand | | | | stop, and all done. Once your child has mastered some |
| more words, have larger vocabularies, score higher on | | | | of these important and functional signs, you may |
| IQ tests, and engage in more sophisticated play.Many | | | | choose to move on to others.Just remember that |
| experts recommend parents introduce signs, while | | | | signing with your baby or child is a tool to lessen the |
| using the verbal label, as early as early as possible. | | | | frustration of being unable to communicate. Learning |
| The earlier you start the more time you will have to | | | | and teaching sign should always be a fun and relaxed |
| learn the signs and get accustomed to using them as | | | | experience for you and your child. Mother, early |
| part of your daily interactions. Ideally, you should start | | | | childhood educator, parent counselor, and author, |
| exposing your child to signs between 6 and 10 months | | | | Colleen Newman is degreed in Early Childhood |
| of age. Do not feel frustrated though if your baby | | | | Education and Psychology. She spent several years |
| does not sign back to you until they are at least 8 to | | | | teaching preschoolers before the birth of her first child. |
| 12 months old. Remember children understand a lot | | | | When Newman decided to share her love and |
| more (receptive language) before they can | | | | dedication to children, her parent education company |
| communicate (expressive language).Learning or being | | | | was born. My Baby and More Parent Coaching and |
| exposed to more than one language is optimal before | | | | Educational Services, a home-based business started |
| a child's second birthday. If they are exposed to | | | | by Newman, was created in 2005. My Baby and More |
| different languages during these formative years, they | | | | provides parents with the education and support of |
| are more likely to reap the benefits in a variety of | | | | positive parenting and natural parenting methods such |
| ways. There has been a great debate as to what | | | | as breastfeeding, babywearing, and attachment |
| program or type of signs a hearing parent should | | | | parenting through one-on-one phone, email, in-home |
| teach their child. Some say use the standard American | | | | and office consultations, seminars, and classes. |
| Sign Language, others believe that if you make up | | | | Newman is also a Breastfeeding Counselor for WIC |
| signs you will remember them easier.Personally and | | | | and holds a certificate as a Certified Happiest Baby |
| professionally I recommend using American Sign | | | | Educator from Dr. Harvey Karp's Happiest Baby |
| Language because ASL is the third most used | | | | Program. Newman loves spending time with her |
| language in the United States. Not only will you be able | | | | husband, John, while they have fun raising their two |
| to communicate more efficiently with your child, but | | | | children, Wes (3) and Claire (1). |