Never Too Early For Baby Signing

As I’ve said in my workshops, the ideal age to start “teaching” your baby to sign is 6 months old, for many reasons.  But it’s never too early to start signing with your baby! 

I’ve been signing with my 5 month old since he was born.  While he’s not fully able to understand everything I’m saying/signing, he is mesmerized by the hand movements.  When I sing the ABC’s to him, I also sign the letters (near my face) and I can see in eyes how much more engaged he is in the song. 

Try it for yourself!  Even if you haven’t learned signs yet, just try singing two different songs to your little ones:

*Twinkle Twinkle Little Start (with no hand movements)

*Itsy Bitsy Spider (with the traditional hand movements). 

Keep the hand movements as close to your face as possible—it’s where your baby like to look the most!  I’m sure you’ll see a difference in their attention and enjoyment with songs when you incorporate hand movements. 

Another great reason to start signing early:  Signing with your baby works best when it’s a natural part of your routine.  Most of us don’t sign in our daily lives, so it can take some practice.  Start practicing in the early months and you’ll be ready when they’re primed to start learning!

Respond To Your Baby And Give Them A New Way To Communicate

When your baby cries or fusses, respond as soon as possible. Babies use crying as their first prelinguistic means of communicating their needs and controlling the enviornment. Babies who are regularly unattended to and not responded to learn that their attempts to communicate are in vain--and they may stop trying. When babies are responded to quickly and with love, they learn that their communication attempts are successful! 

 Give your baby a better way to communicate with you and ease their frustrations.  Your baby will cry less and have an increased love and motivation for communicating with you.  They will even learn to talk earlier!! 

Sign up today for one of our upcoming workshops!

Email for more information: kelly@babysignsavvy.com

Workshops Coming Back This Spring!

Newest member of the Baby Sign Savvy Family!!

I hope the New Year has been good to you and that your little ones are on their way to becoming savvy signing babies!

I’m proud to announce that on December 7, 2010, my second was born! He’s an amazing little man and I cannot wait to start signing with him. He just turned 4 months old so I am working on the new schedule of workshops to begin this Spring.

We were sad to see Lullaby Lane close its doors after so many wonderful years of service to the Bay Area families and we will miss presenting our workshops there. But I have secured a new venue in Los Gatos! In the coming weeks, you’ll see updates to our website and calendar plus more news and activity on Facebook!

If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me through this page or at kelly@babysignsavvy.com.