Little Hands Baby Sign Language Workshop

Remember Mikey, from "Look Who's Talking!"? He would have loved this class. No more imaginary talking, this is for real! Just imagine how difficult it is to have an idea of what you want, but not completely. You can't understand what is happening to you, nor can you understand why no one can figure it out! "I'm Hungry!" "I'm wet!" "I Love You!"

Little ones go through this all of the time. It is so frustrating to not have the resources to ask for what you want. It is kind of like looking for a glass of water on the moon. It doesn't matter if your baby is hearing or hearing impaired, all babies are equal in this time of their lives. They just can't communicate what they are feeling. They don't have the tools.

This class was a start for parents to be able to teach American Sign Language to their children. Children as young as seven months can start learning how to sign for what they want or need. The group of about ten kids and double that of parents met on a Saturday morning to make the start.

Modeling signs can be started as young as six months. Before that, the babies don't have the memory to remember signs. About the age that she remembers that Nana has a necklace is when you can start to teach them simple signs. They can start to ask for their milk. If you are consistent, and use signs every time the situation calls for one, they will start to pick it up.

Signing helps babies to communicate with other people, too, not just their parents. Signs can be taught to other care-givers; day care providers, siblings, and grandparents. They can speak for themselves. Just imagine how much they will love to say NO! sooner than normal.

Start small and grow your vocabulary gradually, using only those signs that make sense for your child to use later. -- Denise Meyer

Denise Meyers has been studying and teaching sign language for many years, and has worked with all ages. And, she is teaching infant sign language to all ages. There were several grandparents at this class (author included...). She is a little more focused on infant sign language these days, as she is "this close" to delivering her first baby.

It is a good idea to start learning sign language before your baby is born, or ready to learn on their own. That will make it familiar to you as you go to teach it to them.  Denise also suggests that you make your signs with your dominant hand. That hand is easier for you to use, and that will make you less likely to stumble (stutter?) when signing to your child.

Sign language is teaching your child a language. Children are more likely to learn new languages, it is easier for them, because they are in the process of learning all languages. Learning American Sign Language can help them in the outside world, too. If you use the same signs that are used all over, it is more likely that they will be understood by others. Many more people are learning to speak with their hands, and it is a recognized second language in many colleges and universities.

**This does not mean that signing is a competitive tool for your child, just that is one of the possible advantages .

Janice LaMere is a self-professed (and sometimes publicly acknowledged) girl-geek. She does computer technical support and training, and is a writer, college student, mother of three and grandmother of two. She likes to read, learn, listen to music, walk with her dog (Lady Isabella Augusta, AKA Auggie Doggie) and watch old movies. She can be found on the Internet at www.janissima.com, or email to lamere@janissima.com.

The author would like to note that anything that teaches children to use both hands, across the mid-line of the body if possible, can help your child accomplish many of the same advantages. Playing the piano (or the accordion as the author did), or signing with both hands equally, is a very, very good tool to help your child reason and communicate. In my humble (but somewhat educated) opinion :-) For more information look up Educational Kinesiology.