Keep It Simple, Keep It Fun
The most successful signers are the children whose parents seamlessly incorporate signing into their everyday lives. These babies are exposed to signing in a frequent and casual way, making it a natural part of their lives. Not only does this make it easier for your baby, but taking a fun and casual approach will make it easier for you, too. The easiest habits to get into are the ones that fit neatly into our lives with little effort. For signing to be successful, it will have to become a habit. Therefore, try to make it easy on yourself.
Signing Is Not a ChoreSigning should never be something that you or your baby dreads, nor should it ever seem like work. Instead, signing should be a pleasure for you and your child. If you find that you are working hard at showing your child how to sign, you are probably trying harder than you need to. Once you have learned a sign yourself, the work is basically over. After that, just demonstrate the sign each time the opportunity arises. It is not necessary to make a big deal of it, nor is it necessary to spend extended periods of time modeling the sign.
E-SSENTIAL
A great way to pick up a few new signs without putting much thought or effort into it is by watching a signing video or DVD. You don’t even have to put your full attention into it. Let it play while you are tidying up or doing laundry or some other menial task, and you will end up learning a few new signs while you’re at it.
Keep in mind that your child will be learning new signs at a relatively slow pace, meaning there is no reason for you to learn dozens of signs all at once. Learn a few here and a few there in your spare time. As you practice them with your baby, they will become more familiar to you, and you will no longer have to think about them.
It is also worth noting that the more people who are signing with your baby, the easier signs will be for you to remember. This is because you will be exposed to the signs over and over again as the other people in your baby’s life form them. This will act as a constant reminder for you of your baby’s most commonly used signs.
Signing GamesOne way to ensure that your signing efforts are more fun than work is to make a game out of them. Games for babies are usually more flexible than structured and may evolve as you play them. When playing a game with your little one, try to let him take the lead.
One activity to help your child learn to sign is based on two essential baby premises. First, babies love it when adults are silly, and second, babies love to imitate. When your baby sees an object of interest and gazes at it or points it out to you, form the sign while you get really silly or excited. Your baby will get a kick out of your excitement and will probably attempt to imitate you. As always, pile on the praise when your baby signs.
You could also try incorporating your baby’s toys into signing games. For example, if your baby is currently learning animal signs, pull out the stuffed animals. Hide them behind your back and pull out one at a time. Each time you reveal an animal, form the corresponding sign. It probably will not take long until he is forming the sign before you have a chance.
E-QUESTION
What if my baby thinks signing is just a game?
If you only exposed him to signs while playing games, he probably would. But you will be demonstrating these signs during all of your day-to-day activities, including games, and he will learn that signing is a form of communication.
Another fun activity is to sign while singing. Sing your baby’s favorite songs and add in the appropriate signs. For example, if your baby loves “The Wheels on the Bus,” learn the signs for BUS, WHEEL, BABY, HORN, and other key words in the song. Start using them instead of the traditional hand motions for the song. This is an excellent way to keep your baby’s attention while signing.
Finally, if your baby is learning signs for the people in his life, pull out the photo albums. Your baby will enjoy looking at pictures of familiar faces, and you can take the opportunity to form the sign for each person in the photos.
