Communicating with Sign Language: 7 Tips to Remember

Here are our 7 tips for learning baby sign language

1- Classroom training is recommended with the great advice and memorization tips from the instructor. You can inquire about customized training options. However, it is still possible to learn signs on your own. Here are some tips for self-learners...

2- First, obtain the documents mentioned in the article "Where to find resources to learn signs in Quebec?"

3- Next, familiarize yourself with the legends: to be able to 'read' a pictosign, it's important to know what the graphic symbols represent (e.g., dotted line = initial hand configuration, solid line = final configuration).

4- Familiarize yourself with the alphabet: signs are sometimes made with the hand configuration of the first letter of the word, which can help in remembering certain signs.

5- 'Wallpaper' your house. For example: place the sign directory related to food in the kitchen, place the sign directory for clothes next to the wardrobe... And don't forget to make it a point to look at them at least once a day!

6- Set a challenge of x signs/week. It can be interesting for parents to jointly decide on a list of priority signs they wish to integrate into their daily lives within a determined timeframe (e.g., target 30 words and integrate 5 per week for 6 weeks). At the beginning of each week, review the signs from previous weeks and look at the new signs to integrate (book and DVD). Try to use them a few times a day during the week.

7- Once you have learned a few signs, you can try to integrate them into your daily life and into different activities with your child (e.g., reading a book or playing symbolic games and signing the words you know). In reverse order, you can draw inspiration from activities enjoyed by the child to learn signs related to these activities (e.g., target the main words of their favorite book, target the vocabulary of fruits from a velcro fruit cutting activity, target the vocabulary of pieces from their favorite puzzle, target words related to doll play...).

In the next blog, we will discuss introducing signs to your child and the vocabulary to prioritize….