Although children’s vocal chords aren’t fully developed until around 16 months of age, most begin understanding language at six to seven months, when their manual dexterity is forming. Infants use their hands to explore and communicate with the world around them early on (think of children waving “bye-bye” and shake their heads “no” by the time they can sit up) and research has shown that they can also use them to communicate long before they can speak.

One long-term study conducted by Drs. Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn and funded by the National Institutes of Health followed over 140 families who began teaching their children American Sign Language (ASL) at 11 months of age. By 24 months, the babies were verbalizing like 27-28 months olds. By 36 months, they were talking like 47 month olds – almost a full year above their non-signing peers. By age 8, the babies who were taught to sign scored an average of 12 points higher on the standardized WISC-III IQ test than others their age.

How to Begin
Infants rely heavily on visual cues from parents and caregivers to learn both spoken and sign language. According to Signing With Your Baby (www.signingbaby.com), you can help your pre-verbal baby learn to sign by:

1. Picking a Sign: Ones that are needs-based (those about eating, drinking, comfort levels like being too hot or cold, needing a diaper change or being tired) seem to work best.

2. Show sign each time you do the activity – Even as you say the word “eat” you can sign the same while feeding your child. Use the same sign before, during and after the activity. Consistency is the best way to help your understand what you are trying to communicate.

3. Use sign until baby signs back – then choose another sign and start again.

4. Be patient – It may take weeks or months before Junior makes the his first sign.

For More Information:
Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before baby Can Talk by Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn – gives the illustrated how-to’s of teaching infants to communicate with their parents before they are able to talk using the Baby Sign Program ®.

www.babysigns.com - lists a sign language lesson chart and links to other sites to help parents learn more about ASL.

Felicia Hodges is the editor of Tri-County Woman Online! and Tri-County Woman Magazines.

© 2008 Tigerlily Communications