Whenever you spend one-on-one time with your baby, you are helping to create a bond that will last a lifetime. Bonding is something that happens not in an hour or a day but rather through repeated sessions of quality time. Signing with your child is one way to add a little bonding time into your routine. It provides an opportunity to learn together and engage in conversation with one another.

Quality Time

Families today are often so busy that they don’t have much opportunity for quality time. Meals are eaten in a rush, music is only listened to in the car, and the television is a willing babysitter when a parent needs a few minutes to attend to another task. Because of this constant rushing around, many people fail to enjoy the moments spent with their children, as they are looking ahead to the next thing that has to be done.

Using sign language with your child, however, helps you to focus on the task at hand. If, during dinner, you are busy demonstrating the signs for CHICKEN and PEAS and FORK, you will be focusing on your meal and, more importantly, on your child. She will enjoy the interaction, and you will find that your mealtime is more enjoyable.

Security, Without the Blanket

There are many things in baby’s world that can offer her a sense of security. A cherished blanket, a familiar story, and a well-loved teddy bear can all be of comfort to a baby or young child. There is nothing, however, that offers her more comfort and security than her parent or other full-time caregiver.

This feeling of security develops as a baby learns that she can depend on you to meet all of her needs. Through signing, you will be able to provide for even more of her needs because you will better understand her requests. The more signing you and your baby do together, the better your responses to her needs will be, thus increasing your baby’s sense of security.

Instant Camaraderie

Do you remember being a child and forming a secret club with your friends? Perhaps you and your friends developed a special code that only you and they were able to understand. These special things held only between you and your friends gave you a sense of closeness that you would not have had ordinarily. The same is true for you and your baby when you practice sign together. Think of it as a special language between you and your baby. It is amazing to be able to communicate with your child in a way that others can’t. The two of you are likely to build a deeper friendship with this shared language that can last a lifetime.

When your baby first begins to sign, she will likely try out her signing skills with everyone around her, and she may grow frustrated when she discovers that not everyone responds to her signs. She will soon figure out who can understand her and who can’t. Those who can will enjoy sharing this special language with your child.