Deciding on what signs to use with your baby is one of the most important steps to take when introducing your baby to sign language.
One can be unsure on what signs to start with and which would be most beneficial.
"Should I start with numbers, letters, food items," could be a question one has.
Thinking about what signs to teach is important to effectively utilize using sign language with your child.
Signs should be chosen on a basis of what your child is interested in, are consistently in the child's environment, and can be easily produced depending on the child's motor development.
When choosing signs a parent should first observe the child's environment and look for objects that consistently appear and may be easy for the child to do.
Signs that involve more gross motor movements are usually easier for babies to use due to children acquiring gross motor movements sooner than fine motor movements.
The child must also be interested in the sign to truly start producing it, so teaching your child signs that they see all the time and appear to please them is a good starting point.
Objects that are usually in a child's environment are food, drink, milk, water, mom, dad, brother, or sister.
One of the primary signs that many professionals recommend using is "more" as the first sign to start with.
"More" is a very easy sign to produce by placing the finger tips of both hands together twice.
When a baby first uses the sign for "more" they usually have some difficulty with placing the fingertips of both hands together.
Some may just place the fingertips of their right hand to the flat palm of their left hand.
Some may clap their hands together because it is easier to tap the palms of their hands together.
This is fine and acceptable.
(See "Does my baby have to physically produce the sign perfectly to use sign language?" for information on how a child should produce sign language.
) Choosing signs like "more", "eat", "drink", and "all done" are effective signs to start.
These signs appear often, bring interest to the child, and are easy to produce.
As you continue to teach your child new signs you should keep in mind those three areas.
A parent can also find signs to teach their children in books, in routine tasks, in games, and also groups of items.
If your child has many of books with animals in them then teaching your child the animals in the book would be effective.
The main ideas that a parent should always take into account when choosing signs are if the sign appears often, is of interest to your child, and is easy to produce.
As the child gets older the signs with fine motor movements will be easier for the child to produce.
The parent should not be discouraged to use signs that are mainly with fine motor muscles but instead modify the sign in order to make it easier for the child or accept the sign attempt your child makes with that sign.
As long as the child is able to use a sign appropriately and at the appropriate times then that is a great sign for that child.
One can be unsure on what signs to start with and which would be most beneficial.
"Should I start with numbers, letters, food items," could be a question one has.
Thinking about what signs to teach is important to effectively utilize using sign language with your child.
Signs should be chosen on a basis of what your child is interested in, are consistently in the child's environment, and can be easily produced depending on the child's motor development.
When choosing signs a parent should first observe the child's environment and look for objects that consistently appear and may be easy for the child to do.
Signs that involve more gross motor movements are usually easier for babies to use due to children acquiring gross motor movements sooner than fine motor movements.
The child must also be interested in the sign to truly start producing it, so teaching your child signs that they see all the time and appear to please them is a good starting point.
Objects that are usually in a child's environment are food, drink, milk, water, mom, dad, brother, or sister.
One of the primary signs that many professionals recommend using is "more" as the first sign to start with.
"More" is a very easy sign to produce by placing the finger tips of both hands together twice.
When a baby first uses the sign for "more" they usually have some difficulty with placing the fingertips of both hands together.
Some may just place the fingertips of their right hand to the flat palm of their left hand.
Some may clap their hands together because it is easier to tap the palms of their hands together.
This is fine and acceptable.
(See "Does my baby have to physically produce the sign perfectly to use sign language?" for information on how a child should produce sign language.
) Choosing signs like "more", "eat", "drink", and "all done" are effective signs to start.
These signs appear often, bring interest to the child, and are easy to produce.
As you continue to teach your child new signs you should keep in mind those three areas.
A parent can also find signs to teach their children in books, in routine tasks, in games, and also groups of items.
If your child has many of books with animals in them then teaching your child the animals in the book would be effective.
The main ideas that a parent should always take into account when choosing signs are if the sign appears often, is of interest to your child, and is easy to produce.
As the child gets older the signs with fine motor movements will be easier for the child to produce.
The parent should not be discouraged to use signs that are mainly with fine motor muscles but instead modify the sign in order to make it easier for the child or accept the sign attempt your child makes with that sign.
As long as the child is able to use a sign appropriately and at the appropriate times then that is a great sign for that child.
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