I had been planning on teaching my baby sign language but she is almost 7 months old and we haven’t started. When is the latest you can start and have it still be useful?
.
Join the Conversation
Leave a comment
Sign Language Lessons, Information, Product Reviews and Tips to Get Started Learning ASL
I had been planning on teaching my baby sign language but she is almost 7 months old and we haven’t started. When is the latest you can start and have it still be useful?
.
Nowdays sign language is taught in grade school and offered in high schools as a foreign language choice. I am a sign language interpreter and it is never too late!!
I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone. My son is 6 months and I plan to start teaching him sign language too. I’m actually waiting for this book I ordered to come in the mail so I can start. I read an article from BabyZone.com saying that it actually helps reinforce communication and gives baby a means for expression before learning to speak and helps alleviate frustration for mother and baby. I don’t think it’s too late to start at all. Besides, if it’ll help baby communicate with you, it’s worth the effort.
You can teach your child sign language anytime..although it is easier, and more usefull when taught earlier. They will pick up very fast, sometimes they will even make sentences or invent their own signs.
We started teaching my 2 yo son when he was 6 months..and he really started using them around 8/9 months.
His first sign was “Nurse” and the second one was “More” and then his voccabulary grew to about 20 signs or so..
He is also being raised as a bilingual child.
The sign language really helpt us a lot..Especially when he couldn’t yet express his thoughts and feelings..he would almost naturally used the signs.
We stopped teaching him signs when he was maybe 18-20 months, to encourage him to use spoken words.
Now at 25 months he really started saying words in both spoken languages (2 to 4 new ones a day) and replacing the signs with them.
Using signs also helpt, when we wanted him to “listen” or pay attention. Because he would have to look at us.
It is been very usefull and will do it again we our next child.
How you can teach him:
Books at the library,
DVDs,
Also the library may have introduction classes to baby sign language..
Please let your child be. If there is no problem – your child is communicating with you already. Simply be sensitive and caring. That’s what makes a chiild respond adn “talk” to you- in a very special way.
We use a few signs with our kids. One is 3 1/2, and one is 21 months. We started using signs, and they picked them up. My older one thought it was funto start using them again after his baby brother was learning them. He knows what the younger one is saying, and they can partially communicate that way. It is fun to see them use a new sigh for the first time. And, takling can be frustrating. Our younger one is just now using one word “sentences,” so the signs have been really helpful for him- especially the “help” sign. If he is playing in another room, and needs help, he is able to come get me instead of just fussing. It is really fun. Use the signs as you talk, and they will pick up on it eventually.
I know sign language. I meant to teach my son so he wouldn’t get so frustrated when trying ot tell us something, but he is getting pretty verbal so I almost think it may be too late to do it for what I had planned. BUT you can teach them anytime you want.