How Do I
As a Parent, Learn
Baby Sign Language?
Once you decide as a parent to teach Baby Sign Language, your first question will probably be, “How do I learn Baby Sign Language first?!”
Obviously it's quite difficult to teach a language you don’t yet know. It is important to understand that American Sign Language is a true language. A few gestures may be modified for lack of infant motor skills. So as a parent you will want to learn the proper way to form the gestures.
The good news is -- Baby Sign Language is not very hard to learn. There are a variety of tools available to help teach these signs:
- There are sign language software packages available that help self-teach Baby Sign Language. These programs are run on the computer and usually come with supporting books and documentation.
- You can purchase a sign language DVD or videos to run on the television or laptop. These are also self-teaching programs.
- There are free ebooks available on the internet that you can download which contain pictures and explanations for Baby Sign Language.
- There are also a large number of Baby Sign Language sites, which can be accessed through the free ASL web browsers. ASL browsers offer sites that teach true American Sign Language.
- Some parents choose to attend parent Baby Sign Language programs offered at a private schools, YMCA’s, community centers, and community colleges.
- For the 'hardcore' - you can also learn ASL by attending a program for through government funded school programs, community colleges, and/or university classes.
Check this baby signing video out!
(Simply click the 'play button' in the middle of this video)
Additional ways of learning Baby Sign Language:
You can learn Sign Language working with an ebook, video or baby signing DVD. There are many learning tools that supplement these programs. These include signing flashcards and sign dictionaries.
When parents begin to learn Baby Sign Language, it's better to start with simple words and gestures. Choose the gestures you will first teach your baby. You can learn the gestures while teaching your infant at the same time.
Remember that it will take several weeks of signing before your infant will produce the first gesture so you have plenty of time to practice.
Try using the gesture along with the activity. For example, sign the word “milk” every time you give the baby a bottle of milk. At the same time you gesture for the word “milk” also say the word out loud. This connects Baby Sign Language gestures and verbal skills development. Continue to add simple words and gestures through practice.
It is pretty easy for parents to learn Baby Sign Language and begin teaching it almost immediately to your infant. Access the many support materials available and start right away! The sooner your infant begins learning the signs and gestures, the sooner you will have that first early two-way conversation with your baby.
Following are free online Sign Language Browsers that you can use to look up lots of signs:
American Sign Language Browsers
British Sign Language – UK Resident
Australian Sign Language
And for a little finger-flexin'practice
Click here for more free Sign Language Browsers online
Do you use Baby Sign Language?
Please share your baby signing experiences here!
(Answer one, answer all, add your own!)
What Other Visitors Have Said About Baby Sign Language
Click below to see baby sign language experiences from other visiting baby signers to this page...
Daycare Provider that Uses Baby Signing
I am a child care provider and teach basic sign words to all of my babies. We continue to use it at all ages.
Parents have thanked me many times for ...
Signing with Babies
I started Tiny Signs because I am as passionate about signing as I am children. My younger brother was born hearing impaired when I was 5, although we ...
My Grandkids and Baby Sign Language
My grandson watches Sprout and he sees it every night before he goes to bed.
He loves watching them signing about a fish and wishes.
He's also started ...
Thank you for your Baby Signing Resources!
I bought some baby sign books
and reviewed them and attempted to use the signs, but most of them are not
things my son is interested in.
I find ...
Baby Signs Ball - My grandson uses sign language
Not rated yet
Your right---
my grandchild has autism--
I began teaching signs right away--
I had no experience before this--
but I took the time to learn because ...
Fun Signing at Home with Baby
Not rated yet
You can accelerate your child's reading and spelling ability before they reach preschool with BABY SIGN LANGUAGE.
I didn't know any sign language before,...
Sign Language for our Infant (now toddler!)
Not rated yet
We started signing with our baby at birth and feel that she could recognise signs a few months on, at 6 months old she signed her first sign-milk to us ...
I love signing with my baby!
Not rated yet
I love signing with my baby. We started when she was 5.5 months old.
She signed back when she was about 7.5 months old. She's 14.5 months old and uses ...
Baby Signing Site - Thank You!
Not rated yet
I was really excited to find your website! It's not often you find something this easy to use and comprehensive.
My family is teaching my niece who ...
Baby Signing with my Toddler cousin
Not rated yet
I read a powerful book about a girl using A.S.L. So I started about 6 mos. ago. I now have started teaching my baby cousin.
She is 2 and I am 10 so ...
Signing with my children
Not rated yet
When my son was just 7 months old, I decided I was going to teach him sign language.
I thought, what do babies do most? Eat, sleep, drink...sometimes ...
Baby Sign Language - Find out EXACTLY what your baby wants to eat
Not rated yet
When our first daughter was 10 or 11 months old, we made little posters with pictures of the foods we usually had on hand in the kitchen. We used baby ...
looking for isl
Not rated yet
are there any on line learning facilities for ISL irish sign, my nephew is deaf, and I am trying to learn sign, but find that isl is not easily accessed ...
Signing with my twin baby girls
Not rated yet
My twin girls are 17 months and we started signing with them at 11 months. It's silly but I got the idea from the movie "Meet the Fockers/Parents" Signing ...