Signing Babies: Sign Language with Your Baby

Once the parent knows the basics of sign language, how do they teach it to the baby?

As with learning to speak, one must consider both the comprehension and expression of the message.

Comprehension:

• IMPORTANT: Make the signs you know at the same time you say the word. Always say the word while making the sign.

• Offer a ‘language bath’ to the child, exposing them to a varied vocabulary to develop receptive vocabulary without expecting the child to produce it.

• Sign the key words of the sentence (Oh! You want a banana.)

• Create situations where you can model multiple times in close succession. As we say in Quebec: "don't hesitate to repeat yourself!" Example: Oh! You want a banana. I like bananas too. Monkeys also eat bananas.

• When possible, juxtapose the rhythm of oral syllables with the rhythm of the sign movements, exaggerating them.

Ex.: Banana = ba + nana; again = a + gain; Done = done

Expression:

• While the child can be exposed to a variety of signs to develop receptive vocabulary, it can be interesting to target 2-3 signs at a time to emphasize for expressive development. At this point, we encourage the child's attempts to produce the sign, just as we do for speech development. Be careful! Realistic expectations are needed, and sometimes the goal takes several weeks to achieve.

• The principle is the same for speech and signs: You need to create needs and opportunities for communication using an accessible method for the child, reducing the number of cues and assistance needed…

For some, hand-over-hand can be helpful, i.e., placing the child's hands on yours (or vice versa) and helping the child execute the sign. You probably all use this strategy naturally to teach a child to wave 'bye-bye' or 'bravo'.

• Model the sign (and the spoken word) several times in close succession to encourage imitation (immediate vs. delayed imitation). Initially, the sign is done with prompting. When the child knows the sign, there comes a time when a mere sketch of the sign is enough. That is, initiate the sign, so the child continues to do it. Eventually, guide the child towards increasingly spontaneous and child-initiated production.

• Pause while looking at the child to show them you are giving them their turn in the exchange. Remain attentive to the child's reaction. Pauses should be long enough for the child to act and avoid encouraging passivity in the exchange. Pauses should end before the child's interest shifts to something else.

These strategies are to be used both when we expect a sign production and an oral production.

Another small piece of advice: be gentle with yourself. At first, using both hands to support the baby, manipulating game pieces while thinking about making signs can seem like a gymnastics routine. After a few tries, this will quickly become natural for you.