Hi, dear signer!
Thank you so much for visiting Little Hands Express. I'm truly happy you're here.
My name is MJ Williams, and for more than 30 years I've had the privilege of teaching American Sign Language to babies, children, parents, educators, and caregivers. I built Little Hands Express over 25 years ago with one simple mission - to help parents and teachers communicate successfully with the babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in their lives.
If you're wondering why I'm so passionate about baby sign language, it all began long before I became a parent.
In the early 1990s, I majored in Psychology before pursuing a Master's degree in American Sign Language Linguistics at Gallaudet University, the world's premier university for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Immersed in Deaf culture and the study of language development, I quickly became fascinated by one remarkable discovery: hearing babies of Deaf parents were communicating through sign language months before hearing babies of hearing parents could speak.
The more I studied, the more intrigued I became.
Research consistently showed that babies naturally communicate with gestures long before they develop the tuned motor skills needed for speech. In fact, infants begin understanding communication from a very early age - even at just two months old, babies can imitate facial expressions! While their minds are ready to communicate, their vocal cords simply haven't caught up yet.
As I continued researching, I discovered the groundbreaking work of baby sign language pioneers Dr. Joseph Garcia, Dr. Linda Acredolo, and Dr. Susan Goodwyn. Their research confirmed what I was already seeing firsthand: babies have so much to say long before they can say it with words.
That realization completely changed the direction of my career.
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work with Deaf and hearing babies, young children, teenagers, parents, daycare providers, nannies, preschool teachers, and educators. I served as the Director of a prominent daycare center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, taught at schools for the Deaf, became one of the early Deaf interpreters during the late 1990s, and developed one of the first structured baby sign language programs.
In 2000, I launched this Little Hands Express website to make baby sign language simple, practical, and enjoyable for families everywhere. Since then, this website has helped tens of thousands of parents discover the joy of communicating with their babies and toddlers before speech develops.
Then came my favorite student of all - our son.
Like many in-touch parents, my spouse and I wanted to give him every opportunity to communicate. We began signing with him early, and the results amazed us.
By just 16 months old, our son had an American Sign Language vocabulary of approximately 45 to 55 signs, along with about 20 spoken words. Because he already understood that communication was powerful, his spoken language flourished alongside his signing.
Even more rewarding was seeing how much frustration disappeared.
Instead of crying because he couldn't explain what he wanted, he simply signed.
One experience has stayed with me ever since:
While eating at a restaurant, an 18-month-old little girl in the next booth became increasingly frustrated. She repeatedly pointed and vocalized "uh...uh..." while her mother desperately tried to guess what she wanted.
"This?" she asked, picking up one object after another.
"No?"
"What about this?"
The little girl grew more frustrated with each guess.
At nearly the same moment, our son looked at me and calmly signed DRINK.
"What would you like to drink?" I asked.
He immediately signed MILK.
Within seconds, we knew exactly what he wanted.
That simple exchange reinforced everything I had spent years studying. Communication isn't just about talking - it's about being understood.
Another unforgettable moment happened after my sister had visited our home. Shortly after she left, our 16-month-old picked up her keychain, looked at us, and signed, "Auntie's keys."
Sure enough, she had accidentally left them behind.
Moments like these remind me that baby signing isn't only about asking for food or drinks. It's about sharing thoughts, making observations, telling stories, and initiating conversations that would otherwise remain trapped inside a child's mind.
Imagine visiting the zoo with your one-year-old.
Your child probably can't pronounce "elephant" or "kangaroo," but they can easily learn to sign ELEPHANT and KANGAROO.
Imagine your nine-month-old telling you they want JUICE instead of milk.
Or signing that something HURTS.
Imagine understanding your baby's thoughts instead of trying to guess.
That's the incredible gift baby sign language offers.
I've also learned something important over the years: many toddler tantrums aren't caused by bad behavior - they're caused by frustration. Babies often know exactly what they want to say but simply don't yet have the physical ability to speak the words. Giving them signs bridges that communication gap until spoken language naturally develops.
That's why I'm so passionate about sharing baby sign language with families around the world.
Everything you'll find on Little Hands Express comes from decades of real-world experience - not only with my own child, but through working with hundreds of babies and children, teaching thousands of families, and studying language development throughout my career.
I don't simply repeat what I've read in books.
I teach what I've researched, what I've experienced, and what I've seen work over and over again through these amazing years.
Nothing brings me greater joy than watching a parent's face light up the very first time their baby signs back.
It's a magical moment - and I hope you experience it too, very soon.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your baby's communication journey. I look forward to helping your family discover just how much your little one has to say.
Happy Signing!
MJ Williams
P.S. I'd love to hear from you! Whether you have a question, a success story, or simply want to say hello, feel free to email me anytime
at mj@littlehands-express.com. I always enjoy hearing from families who are discovering the joy of baby sign language.
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