March 25, 2005/Adar II 14 5765, Volume 57, No. 30
Babies let their fingers do the talkingValley JCCs offer infant sign language classes
LILA BALTMAN
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 "Please" |
Across the United States, the word is quickly spreading about the many benefits of using sign language with hearing babies.
"A baby who has even a small repertoire of signs possesses a very powerful tool - the beginnings of a formal way to communicate," says Kendra Benedict, 34, an American Sign Language instructor from Tempe who started teaching her own daughters Abby, 1, and Maya, 3, sign language when they were 9 months old. "Learning sign language can definitely ease frustration between you and your baby, and it can also build a wonderful bond between the two of you."
Just teaching a couple of signs to a baby, such as "bottle," "hungry," "thirsty," "sleepy," "hurt," "more" or "all done," can help parents unlock what is going on inside their baby's head and help the baby express what he or she is thinking or feeling.
Even polite words like "please," "thank you" and "I'm sorry" can be signed to a baby as well. After all, it's never too soon to start teaching proper etiquette.
In fact, every parent and grandparent has already used sign language with their baby without even realizing it - the simple hand waves for "hello" and "goodbye."
"Children can physically use their hands for gesturing and signing much earlier than their little mouths can pronounce words," explains Benedict. "Therefore a child's signing ability comes months before his or her verbal ability kicks in."
Children as young as 5 months old can begin to learn a few signs, and learning sign language, says Benedict, will in no way prevent or discourage a child from speaking. "Learning sign language can actually increase and enhance a baby's vocabulary."
Missy Gregory, 35, of Mesa is another example of a mother who used sign language as a way to enhance her children's verbal development.
A mother of a 1-year-old son and two adopted daughters from China, now ages 2 and 5, Gregory used the American Sign Language system with her daughters when she adopted them at 10 and 13 months of age in order to help transition them from the Chinese language to the English language.
The first signs she taught the girls centered around eating - teaching them the signs for "milk," "drink" and "crackers," among others. In a short time, both girls were able to express themselves without a lot of screaming or crying.
Gregory's advice to parents learning infant sign language for the first time is to "just have fun with it" and not give up if the child does not begin to learn the signs immediately. It takes a lot of patience and repetition.
"Just like a child needs to hear a word repeated several times before speaking it, a child needs to see a word signed several times before signing it."
All children have the ability to learn sign language, insists Stephanie Calabretti, 29, from Pinal County, who is a certified instructor with The Baby Signs Program - a modified version of American Sign Language that is geared specifically for babies.
"A child with autism, Down syndrome or any special needs can also benefit greatly from learning sign language," says Calabretti. "It is an excellent way to help them communicate."
Calabretti says that teaching her own daughter Gabriella, now 18 months, "Baby Signs" was the smartest parenting decision she ever made.
She says that Gabriella is now beginning to speak several words in addition to signing as many as 80 words. She recently learned the sign for "grapes," "turtle" and "butterfly," and is even starting to put two signs together. Her hands are constantly in motion.
"We think that Gabriella might even be ready to begin potty training because she is starting to sign and tell us when she feels wet and wants to be changed," says Calabretti with a laugh. "Knowing how to sign with our daughter makes both my husband and I feel more confident as parents because we know that we can understand her and always try to meet her needs. It is amazing how well we can communicate with her."
Lila Baltman is a Phoenix freelance writer.