Infant Development & Education

It's my personal opinion that there is too much pressure to have babies start learning too early. Every day is already filled with new things, there is no reason to push educational activities. Again, that is a personal opinion and I don't fault anyone who feels otherwise. Just something to think about...That being said, I do like the idea of baby sign language. Babies know what they want a lot sooner than they are able to verbally communicate and sign language is a great way for them to express themselves sooner and help eliminate a lot of their frustrations. I attended the Wee Can Sign classes here in Las Vegas, and they were great. I highly recommned the products offered on their website http://www.weecansign.com/products.htm Beyond that, I personally try to take advantage of every day situations that allow for learning. I don't use "baby talk" much and I point out colors, shapes and animals when my kids notice them.

I think that is great for babies to sign before they can talk. I am trying to teach my daughter (11 months old)American Sign Language. Some great resources I am using are from www.signingtime.com. Check it out and have fun. You can see Signing Time shows on PBS.

My baby is 8 months old and we have been "signing" since she was 6 mos old. However, she has not signed back! I got a book for Christmas with flash cards in it that I love, it's called "Baby Sign Language", by Karine Shemel Rosenberg. It's from Barnes and Noble but I bet you can find it on Amazon too. I am excited to say that my daughter is acting more interested and the book said not to be to eager for a response from your child. They usually don't communicate back until 9-12 mos. She is waving and saying mama, and dada. I started with the eating signs because it's something we do every day over and over again. She is giving me indications that she understands me now. It's only a matter of time before she picks up the hand portion. I am very excited about this! I have talked with others BSL moms and my book (and the rest of them) are not all the same. My book says you can also make up signs that are unique to you and your family. The deal is you must get everyone on board with it. Your babies father, child care worker, family members that she may stay with and your friends. Don't worry that she is older than my daughter was when I started you can teach BSL any time before they can speak. Good Luck and remember it's a learning process for your sweet baby as well as yourself!

I signed with my son and we used the Signing Time videos and music as our guide. Signing was fantastic because we didn't suffer through tantrums when he was pre-verbal because he was able to communicate his wants, emotions, etc thru signing instead of pointing and crying as you tried to figure out what he wanted. You can check out the series at www.signingtime.com, and you can find them on e-bay too. We also utilize our local library extensively (because buying books became so expensive to keep up with his interest...and I ran out of space to put them). My son just turned 3 and he knows the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, and has a very extensive vocabulary, and a well developed imagination. Another engaging educational & fun series is from LeapFrog. I purchased the series of 5 DVD's including Letter Factory, Word Factory, one about reading, math, and I can't remember the 5th one. But they kind of progress by development...my son likes them and he's learned the phonics behind the alphabet and is able to read. My son also uses the computer to access games and activities on pbskids.org, and we started that at about 18 months. He's quite proficient at the computer now in regards to hand/eye coordination, etc. Good luck and have fun!
PS: For a fun introduction to science check out Peep and the Big Wide World series, we've tried out the experiments at the end of each segment!

Its a great idea! We started signing with our little one when she was about five months old and by seven months she could sign milk and more. From there it just grew. Now that she is 22 months, she is signing and talking up a storm! I looked into it extensively and babies that sign, typically have a larger spoken vocabulary when they do speak and start speaking sooner. The numbers usually indicated this to be true somewhere in the 80-95% of the time depending on the study. Its also helpful with special needs kids so more and more schools are teaching it across the board so that the special needs kids can communicate with the other kids too. This will put your child ahead of the game on this front and set him/her up for leadership opportunities most kids do not get (I am a teacher).

There are tons of books and kits about it, but the most helpful thing for us was the "My Baby Can Talk" DVD series. She was (and still is) engaged by it, and we would sit and watch with her so we learned the words too. Looking at pictures just isn't enough - it doesn't depict the movement well. Now that she is nearing two, we have also found the signing times videos helpful and she really enjoys the two that we have. She wasn't ready for them when she was younger though because they move a little faster.

In addition, there is a website called aslpro (www.aslpro.com) that has court translators signing a whole bunch of signs and you can alphabetically look up any signs of interest to you on there as well. This is a great resource for when you are finding you are using a word over and over again and would like to know the sign for it but the word isn't on the videos. It doesn't have everything, but it does have quite a bit.

My husband and I found that it wasn't too hard to learn one word/week - or more because many of the signs just make a lot of sense any way. We started out with five words and then added from there. I had already learned the alphabet which helps because it makes it easier to understand a lot of the hand shapes that are used. But it will be awhile before you would want to know it with your little one any way so if you learn one word and 5 or 6 letters a week you'll be up and running in no time!

I do not recommend the Baby Einstein signing videos until after your baby is at least one and a half, not because they are bad, but because the signs they choose are less useful (window, refrigerator etc.) than many others and even the signs given like the one for blocks tend to be long with a lot of steps. In sign, there are many words that have less, specific, short versions for example, the sign for chicken is usually signed just as the word for bird, but if you want to be detailed there is a more detailed sign (that involves more steps) for chicken. Blocks and Puzzles are two words like this and the baby einstein series gives you the long, detailed version with is harder for babies to put together. Now that she is older we have watched it some, it does engage her and she thinks the puppet shows in between are funny. She usually signs part of the signs given that are more involved and we get the idea.

I have actually met a couple of deaf people now and am looking into learning to be an interpreter - maybe - tough job. But they are always more than happy to help by giving advice on resources when I need it. You may find the same thing happens to you! I met one in the pediatrician's office when she saw my baby and I signing the colors together.

Good Luck and Let me know if you need any additional information or advice, or resources!

Make sure to post us all on how it goes too!

I have taught in the field Early Childhood Education for over 10 years and am a happy mother of 2 lovely, gifted children.
Some of the things I did, use a mirror to teach (have your child look and play looking in the mirror - mom always have a great big smile. this elevates the babies mood and shows it is okay to play.) Read fun and playful stories SHORT stories because of the attention span at this age. nature let your child experience time with mom on the grass - different textures at this age and talk to your child like if they are touching holding a cotton ball say soft etc.. always take the object lovingly - I distract them with a toy in the other hand and they usually release what they were holding before... Be there the whole time. Just some stuff. Music is important find some good Bach to play and see the stimulation of your child - hope this helps have a great time - Love M.
www.mimiquick.com

baby signing is fantastic! I have successfully taught my two older children sign and have just started with my 4 month old. The best part is that it takes away the frustration that causes tantrums and whinning! Most of the time kids are just frusterated they can't communicate thier needs, so give a sign and get ride of the frustration. I highly recommend "signing time" books and DVD's, you can get them at www.mom4life.com (which has a ton of other great products and is owned and ran by a mom that started the buisness to stay home with her kids, very cool)

Signing is a great way to teach your child to communicate before he or she can speak. I did it with my daughter from between 8-15 months. She just turned two. Signing limits your child's frustration and they able to tell what they need.

The only thing that I would caution is to pay attention to when your child should be ready to SPEAK and begin to move away from signing - encouraging your child to SAY the words instead of signing. Some children who sign will be dependent on just signing and not want to speak. I had to make a conscious effort to tell my daughter to say her words once I determined that she was ready. In fact, even up until a month and half ago, I had to tell her to speak the words "I'm sorry, mommy" instead of signing it. Initially, she kept on wanting to sign the words she knew. Now she doesn't sign anymore.

http://www.amazingbabies.com/ You should watch these videos. They are great! Basically, it educates parents about the importance of free movement for babies and toddlers (crawling, creeping, reaching, rolling, etc...) and how it helps the brain develop. Basically, tummy time is very important. Here are 2 articles for you:
Article - Foundation for Learning is Laid in Infancy
http://tinyurl.com/2bxcm8
Brain Dance for Babies
http://tinyurl.com/yrst3v
Worse thing to do - Baby Einstein Videos. Read "Einstein Never used Flashcards."

I agree completely with signing. Don't hesitate. Also, just read a lot to her. It doesn't always have to be baby books, I read magazine articles, Harry Potter, anything that interested me. Of course I also read all the baby books, and any other age appropriate books. Now she's 5 and reading/looking at books is her favorite thing to do.
M.

I used this site to learn some signs when my son was a newborn to teach him as he got older, as well as ASLpro.

http://www.mybabycantalk.com/

Signing Time is also great. My son didn't sign as early as I had hoped (some sources said around 10 months), but after he was one (maybe 14 months?) he suddenly knew at least 30! It was crazy, he had taken it all in but waited awhile before showing us what he'd learned. After that, he learned signing so quickly. He eventually stopped doing signs as he learned to speak better. But now that he's 27 months he does them while he's speaking sometimes, when he wants to add emphasis or do it differently. (We even had an argument about "more" the other day, lol!) I swear my 5 month old baby understands the sign "milk", bc I sign it to her just before she nurses.

I think signing is a wonderful thing and can't hurt, only help - especially since I'm not fluent in another spoken language, but wish my children were! Plus, it's so fun to see my husband doing ASL with the ABC song and other signs...I never dreamed he'd do that!

Good luck in your learning and teaching,
N.

Truly I was so much like you at that point!!! It makes me smile! In all honesty, I have to say this...spending slow time in a stroller, walking around the street, pointing things out, swinging at the park, telling her about the world in adult language created a very intelligent little boy in my house! When he started preschool part time, he learned nothing! however, when asked what squirrels with nuts - he responded by saying burying them. now, most of us don't know that at least at 3 we don't. he knew that coz his grandma had him outside watching squirrels. he watched them bury nuts to save. he talks about amazing things because he was exposed to things. your attention will help that baby develop more than any of the new age stuff they come out with - and that's a promise!!!
other than that, there's tons of videos, etc. try gymnastic classes, mommy n me stuff!
good luck

I just saw on The Today Show, that these parents taught their little girl to sign and now at 17 months she is actually reading. Saw it myself, she was too cute! The parents think it's because they taught her to sign.
V-Smile has a sign game and there are DVD's you can get. I think it's so great that you're willing to do what you can to help your child.
Good luck,
S.

My daughter is 15 months and has been signing since she was around 10 months. It has been the greatest thing. She knows over 50 signs. She is starting to talk but still uses signing a lot, especially for words she can't say yet. I can't tell you how helpful it has been and also is a lot of fun because you can communicate and get a window into what they are thinking about before they are talking.
I taught her some basic nouns first because they seemed to be easiest to grasp (dog, bird, ball, ect.). To teach her I just picked a few and consistantly used them whenever I had the chance. After she learned a few and got the idea of signing she took off and learned several signs fast. (Even making up her own for some words) Signs like all done, outside, eat, drink, ect. have been very helpful. I have read that introducing them as early as 6 months is fine but don't expect much signing from them until they are around 9 months. This was true with my daughter. I tried at 6 months and she was not to into it. After I taught her a few signs I got the Signing time videos (Baby Signing Time and regular Signing Time are both awsome) She doesn't watch much TV, but she LOVES these videos. She has learned a lot from them and I highly recommend them. You can check them out at signingtime.com but I usually bought mine from Amazon, sometimes even used.
Good luck and happy signing!!!

My son is 8 and a half months old and we started signing with him at 8 months...just with food, milk and "all done" so far. Just today he responded to my husband by imitating the sign of what he wanted, which was milk! So, yes it works, but I from what I hear you can't really begin until about 8 months because of their stage of development. It is really cool!! The "regular" stuff was all we did at 6 months too, and that was all he wanted;)

My daughter is 14 months and talking more than I ever thought possible at this stage. We didn't introduce her to sign because she knew all the words that first get introduced. I think signing is a great way to communicate for those kids who don't talk early! However, here is what I've found: the big thing is to have a TWO way communication w/ your kid. I kept hearing from experts to talk a lot, describe what I was doing, talk about what we were seeing when we were out and about; but, what I found, is that I LISTENED to her responses. I did a lot of copying of her tone, looking her in the eye, waiting for her response to questions. I find that sometimes, the sweet, quiet down time we have together is equally important to the stimulation she gets from our activities. She had time to process and practice. Just throwing that out there as there is so much importance placed on how to stimulate. I think how to relax and absorb what is learned is vital to the learning process.

Enjoy yourself and your baby: )
J.