Baby Signing - Saying no isn't a bad thing

by Anne
(Ohio)

I know you want to encourage her to use signs, but she also needs to learn that no matter whether the question (or demand! LOL) is made verbally or with signs, the answer is not always going to be Yes.

Treat signing just like speaking. If she asked out loud for a knife to play with, you would tell her NO. If she signed that she wanted a knife to play with, tell her/sign to her NO, and tell her it's not safe.

It's one thing if you're saying No all the time, but you're obviously not. :) So, just view saying No as what it is at this point: limit setting. Kids do better when they know and have consistent limits set for them.

Good luck!