by Lune Wolfsong
Member since:
August 7, 2006

Baby Signs

February 21, 2008 05:33 PM EST (Updated: February 21, 2008 05:34 PM EST)
views: 197 | rating: 9.7/10 (29 votes) | comments: 37
Have you used sign language with small children?  Which signs did you find useful?

We started using sign with the older of my two boys.  My daughter is very sensitive and anxious and was quite the handful when it came to tantrums, looking back I'm sure it would have been a great help with her but I didn't know then what I know now.  With my son, our main signs we used were Eat/Hungry and I Want That, the last I'm not sure of the proper name for, it was something his sister picked up off Signing Time and taught him. 

It's wonderful for giving them a way to communicate before their verbal skills catch up to their mind.  With my daughter I saw a lot of frustration because she couldn't make herself understood.  It's been less of an issue with the younger two.  We're just starting to think of using this with the baby, he'll be a year old next month, which is about the time we started with his older brother.  If I recall correctly it took a little bit for him to use them, but this is about when we began.

We first saw Signing Time on PBS, but they also have a website and some short videos posted on YouTube.  Their Feelings video is next on my shopping list, after a friend mentioned she found the emotions signs very helpful, particularly Scared.  Their videos are entertaining and the kids love them, but you can also access ASL browsers online for free to learn the signs.  This one has simple videos demonstrating the words.

So, any ideas?  Experiences?  I'm also always on the lookout for additional resources if anyone has good ones I've missed.
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Comments: 37

penni d. Feb 21, 2008, 5:35pm EST
i really wish sign would be taught in ALL the schools, lune...
Lune Wolfsong Feb 21, 2008, 5:44pm EST
:) We're planning on studying ASL for our daughter's second language studies (homeschooling gives us so many options), may eventually add Latin, but I don't want to overwhelm her or bite off more than I can chew.
Midnite Writer -- Kim Feb 21, 2008, 6:23pm EST
Sounds neat, he just pointed a lot. We use our own language though.
DIANE D. Feb 21, 2008, 6:23pm EST
Sign laguage is a great idea to teach, I only point to the time out chair though.
Kylee **Queen of Karaoke** S. Feb 21, 2008, 8:57pm EST
I have friends that are teaching sign language to their small children and I think that it is a wonderful way for children to communicate before they are able to speak
Lune Wolfsong Feb 21, 2008, 8:59pm EST
Thanks, Kim and Diane.

My observation has been the same, Kathleen.

Aw, your friend's poor baby, to have to undergo repeated attempts to fix his palate. Poor mom, too. So hard to see our children have to go through things like this.

That's awesome about your neighbor. :)

Thanks.
Lune Wolfsong Feb 21, 2008, 8:59pm EST
Thanks, Kylee.
Ruth MacGill Feb 21, 2008, 11:07pm EST
A great idea! I think all children should be taught to sign. Even if they don't have a hearing problem, signing is useful. I try to use hand signals with my cats and dogs as much as possible. Dogs are very good at it, but cats only when they feel like it. One cat
however, will move from my chair to my computer chair when I point and pat the chair. He does do it at once, but about the 3rd time he will move
Emma L. Feb 22, 2008, 1:06am EST
I don't have children, but I learned to sign in grade school. I still remember quite a bit of it, which is pretty amazing. I also naturally talk with my hand a lot- I always did well with speeches and presitations because of it. I notice that when I speak to a child or person whose first language isn't english I kind of act out what am saying a little more.
I agree, everyone should learn ASL.
ChrisJerri S. Feb 22, 2008, 11:39am EST
I don't know how to sign, but I think it's a great skill to have. Children learn rapidly at young ages. I wish I had learned a foreign language while young. I saw once on Oprah that young babies have certain ways of communicating. You just have to recognize certain sounds and cries to know what they want. And these are universal with all babies. You may be able to find it on her website.
Ian Thorpe Feb 22, 2008, 1:16pm EST
Signs were the first language humans developed and are universal.
Monica Kennedy Feb 22, 2008, 2:53pm EST
I am actually doing my research project this semester at ETSU on Baby Talk, which will include using sign language with infants and toddlers. It is fascinating to me, and you can begin using it very early on and they will pick it up naturally as they become developmentally capable. I am taking a sign language course too, and am loving it, since we have several deaf people at my church, I look forward to being able to better communicate with them.

Another part of my research will be on communication with newborns and infants by learning the Dunstan baby vocabulary. Apparently, there are universal sounds made by infants that can key you into the reason for their cry. One cry sound means they are hungry, another means they are tired, another means they need to burp . . . and if you pick up on these and respond appropriately, not only will the child be soothed, but they will continue the pattern longer into infancy than for those who do not respond to the infants indicative cries. It is all pretty fascinating, I think - even though I do not have kids myself.

I will be posting my paper on Gather after the semester is over and it has been graded - most likely in short segments since the total paper has to be a minimum of 20 pages. Thanks for the links. I will refer to them in researching.
Rory P. Feb 22, 2008, 3:03pm EST
We had every intention of using Baby Signs but my son started talking earlier than expected and we started later than expected so we didn't get through very many of them. We found that MORE and ALL DONE were the ones we all used the most. Then FOOD and MILK came in a close second. We also used HURT too and it helped us in many situations. I think it is great to teach babies this communication...it eliminates a lot of the frustration they experience when trying to get their point across.
Monica Kennedy Feb 22, 2008, 3:04pm EST
Lune, The lady who is teaching my class has a 3 VHS video set and book which is the same as the class we are taking for $30. She is working on getting it on DVD soon as well. If you are interested, you can contact her at thelanguageconnection@comcast.net. A friend of mine could not attend the classes due to schedule conflict, and she says the videos are great. She has had a lot of homeschoolers use them.
Lune Wolfsong Feb 22, 2008, 3:30pm EST
Hehe, Ruth, that sounds like a cat all right.

Thanks, Emma. I learned the ASL alphabet in grade school, which sounds like it's fairly common from the comments here, but forgot much in disuse, similar to my high school spanish. ;)

ChrisJerri, sounds like you and Monica are talking about the same baby vocabulary. Thank you.

Thank you, Ian.

Monica, wonderful information, thank you. I look forward to seeing your articles.

Rory, thanks! You've given me some to add to my list.
Jo C. Feb 23, 2008, 7:43pm EST
I don't know if this will relate but we adopted a 5 year old who could not speak English (spoke another language). Immediately, I taught him improvised signs for these emotions: happy, sad, tired, angry, etc. Also signs for "I have to go to the bathroom now". We also learned his language but sometimes a "sign" was more comfortable for him than trying to speak in front of other people, at first. It worked beautifully, especially in public.
Lune Wolfsong Feb 23, 2008, 8:26pm EST
Thanks, J, these are good ones. I was missing "tired" and one for bathroom will be good for my toddler.
This is an awesome idea. I've never seen anyone use sign language with children except for ones who had hearing impaired children.
William M. Feb 24, 2008, 12:20pm EST
I have never thought about it. Interesting.
Aubrey :) Feb 24, 2008, 9:42pm EST
I wish I would have taught mine more. I only got milk down with him. It's nice to have him do it though. We would be lost without it. If I ever have any other children I will so teach them.
The Red Headed Witch of Gather G. Feb 24, 2008, 11:12pm EST
I have heard it is good for kids to learn sign language but I don't have kids, so I don't know much about it sorry.
vickie f. Feb 25, 2008, 3:30am EST
Lune it is wonderful for kids. I taught mine 30 years ago sign when they were little about 6 months I made it a game. Put all the things they really liked first and taught the sign for it. We have wonderful times doing this.
Today they still sign my grandson does as well. Do it it will also help their brain work better, the combo of understanding is awesome.
sheila h. Feb 25, 2008, 5:34pm EST
my stepdaughter has Down's and learned ASL when only 8 as she had CP and couldn't speak well.It really helped us communicate and broadened her world..and ours.

as far as resources we had books..going way back LOL..she is 31 now..
the other'neat' thing is the secret language aspect of sign and kids like that appeal..

wow..i am amazed by your ambition!
Lune Wolfsong Feb 25, 2008, 9:14pm EST
Thank you, Katherine.

Thanks, William.

Thanks, Aubrey. That's how it was with the older of my two little boys. We didn't use many but the ones we did really made a difference. I've gotten such good ones from this conversation, I know it's going to be even more helpful with the baby.

Thanks, Melissa.

Thanks Vickie, what a great way to do it. I will have to use this.

Thank you, Sierra. :D

Thanks, Sheila.

:)
sheila h. Feb 26, 2008, 12:35pm EST

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Oh just a little something for marvelous you!
I was going to leave you a comment
Tom says they don't really matter
they said the same for ratings,
gather keeps them 'round for fodder
nothing matters no more 'ceptin' ad, umm
oops, I really meant to say page, views
But how would you ever know, today
I viewed your article or picture if
I didn't leave an inconsequential comment?
Phyllis R. Feb 27, 2008, 4:19pm EST
This is a great idea, - I am planning to take a course in sign language at our local technical college...........something I have always wanted to learn!!
jessie voigts Feb 28, 2008, 11:21am EST
i wish i'd done more with lillie. friends of ours sign all the time. the cutest one is flamingo, done by a barely standing 1 yr old...
Lune Wolfsong Feb 28, 2008, 8:59pm EST
Thanks, Sheila.

Thanks for not leaving me that cut and paste comment you were thinking of leaving, Altair. Appreciated. *tic*

Thanks, Phyllis - I found a neat site with lessons for ASL: here, if you'd like to see it.

*hugs* Kathleen.

Thanks, Jessie. Awwww.... :)
Jerri H. Feb 29, 2008, 8:53pm EST
I have heard nothing BUT good about it Lune
Jerri H. Feb 29, 2008, 8:55pm EST
Sounds like a great second language to have too.
with my dawg.
Apryl Just Apryl Mar 2, 2008, 12:02pm EST
wonderful article. I came by to say Thank You for keeping me in your thoughts, I feel so much better!


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debra g. Mar 3, 2008, 11:09pm EST
Hello lune,I'm way behind in returning comments and here I am.great article as my kids aere all grown I don't know anything about this.I will try to get caught up this week.charlie had rtc surgery and I'm trying to get it done.
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Have a great gather day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jerri H. Mar 7, 2008, 9:29pm EST
You will have to let us know how it goes~
Elsie Duggan Mar 18, 2008, 11:54pm EDT
Wonderful article Lune, my oldest son wears a hearing aid for an ear that has 40% hearing, but he is stone deaf in the other. However, we didn't know it until he started school, he had taught himself to lip read. He has never used signing, and since he now is pretty good with the hearing aid and almost 57, next month, he will probably do okay the way he is. I think it is wonderful they are teaching signing, everyone should know a bit of it.
The original comment in this thread has been deleted by its author.
Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Oct 12, 2009, 11:25am EDT
I just wrote a post along these lines, but the baby I have in mind is not hearing impaired, is only 5 months old, and hasn't spoken any words at all yet. I don't see any answers to my questions here, but if anyone has had the experience of teaching an infant to sign before he or she can speak, I'd appreciate the feedback. My post is here, but feel free to leave any answers on this post because I just want the answers, and don't care where they are posted.

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