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!
