Keep Track of Baby’s Signs
As your baby learns more and more signs, you will probably want to document them in some way. There are two reasons for this. First, documenting each sign your baby has learned will help you to remember them. Secondly, it is a nice way to showcase your child’s achievements. There are several tried-and-true methods of recording baby signs, but use whatever method is easiest and most preferable to you. It is not necessary to spend a lot of time or money on your log. If you remember to keep it simple and organized, you will likely be pleased with the results.
Signing JournalsMany parents keep a journal for their babies anyway. If this is something that you do already, it should be easy to get into the habit of recording your baby’s signing adventures. If you are not already a journalist, it is easy to begin. The hardest part about it is remembering to do it on a regular basis.
First you will need to get a journal. It can be anything from a cheap spiral-bound notebook to a fancy leather-bound blank book. Then, every time you introduce a sign, write about it in your journal. Name the sign and how it is formed, as well as any reaction from your baby. Likewise, when your baby first forms a sign on his own, be sure to write about that milestone. In the years to come, you will be glad to have a well-documented account of your baby’s jaunt into the world of sign.
Photo AlbumsA photo album or scrapbook is a nice way to document your baby’s signing journey and will be a memento that you can keep forever. You, your child, and other loved ones will enjoy looking at these photos for years to come. The only drawback to a photo album is that you have to wait until your child is proficient at a sign before you can expect him to model it for the camera. For this reason, a photo album is not a good record of the signs that your baby is only starting to demonstrate. It is mainly a nice keepsake for after the fact. Therefore, if you do opt to keep a photo album of your baby’s signs, it is probably a good idea to keep a written record somewhere, too. That way, you will have an easily accessible reference for yourself until the photo album is complete.
E-ALERT
If you choose to mount your photographs in a scrapbook, be sure to use only acid-free and lignin-free papers to keep your photos safe. Lignin can cause a chemical breakdown of your photos, while acid can cause them to become brittle and discolored. Most craft stores carry an extensive assortment of photo-safe papers.
For ease of organization, consider grouping your photographs by category of signs (such as food signs, clothing signs, outdoor signs, and so on) or chronologically in the order your baby learned them. If you are using the album as a reference for yourself or someone else, organizing the photos by category is probably your best option. If, however, you are creating a keepsake for yourself, then you will likely want the photos in chronological order.
Video DiaryIf you have a camcorder at your disposal, a video diary is a fun way to record your baby as he learns to sign. When you are prepared to introduce a new sign, simply set up the camera and let it run as you model the new sign. Later, when your baby begins signing back, you will want to record those moments, as well. Your baby’s loved ones will undoubtedly enjoy watching your baby as he acquires this new skill.
The problem with a video diary, however, is that it is easy to miss those early signs because they sometimes just appear out of nowhere and without warning. You may find that you are only able to capture a sign once your baby has started to regularly use it. To increase the chances of capturing your baby’s first signs on video, be sure to have your camera ready whenever your baby is in a situation where he is likely to sign. For instance, if you are using the sign for EAT, have the camera rolling every time you put him in his high chair. If nothing else, you may end up with a recording of your baby tossing his bowl off of the tray or smearing food on his face— footage that Grandma will undoubtedly find adorable!
Signing LogA quick and easy way to keep track of your baby’s signs is to create a signing log. A blank log is provided in Appendix B of this book, but you can develop any system that works for you. The basics of the signing log should include the name of the sign, the date it was introduced, the date your baby first signed or responded to it, a description of the sign, and possibly any other notes of importance.
E-FACT
There are many words that have more than one corresponding American Sign Language sign. For example, there are at least three acceptable ways to sign MAN. For future reference, a detailed description of each sign is a must in your signing log. That way there will never be confusion as to which version of a sign you used.
You can make your signing log a little more special by putting it in a pretty book, scrapbook, or journal and attaching photos of your baby forming the signs. This will give you an easy reference, as well as a keepsake of this time in your baby’s life.
