Sharing Signing Advice!

Play face to face: Encourage family members to get down on the same level as your baby. Then you can see and learn more about what your baby experiences. At the same time, your baby can watch and learn more about communicating with you. He or she also will love the attention.

Imitate both the movements and sounds your baby makes: Do what your baby does. Say what your baby says. Soon he or she will be imitating you.

Label your baby’s experiences: Give your child names for the things you see and do. Label these items using both signs and speech. For example, if your baby points to a bird, sign “bird” and say “bird.” If your child is jumping, say “jump” and sign “jump.”

Be consistent with your signing: You want your child to think: “When Mommy and Daddy say “more” or “ball,” they always sign it, too, so that must be how it’s done.

Repeat, repeat, repeat: Find as many different ways as possible to use the same words and signs in a day. For example, to teach the concept of “on,” sign and say, “Socks on. Shoes on. Pants on. Shirt on.” Sign before, during and after the activity.