As a parent, it is likely that you frequently find yourself repeating yes and no to your baby, hoping to teach them and help them understand things that they should be doing and things they should not. American Sign Language can help you to communicate yes and no to your baby more easily (even from across a room) and also help them to better understand you.
To sign no, your pointer and middle finger should snap down on your thumb. To sign yes, shake your fist up and down as if nodding your head. It is also very important to remember to use facial expressions when signing, since sign language is such a visual language. When signing no, it would be most effective to make an angrier or firm face. On the other hand, when signing yes, it would be best to smile and make a happier, more supportive face.
I have found a book that I think would be especially useful for you to read and sign to your baby. It is titled No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli. The only words in the book are yes and no. There is a picture on each page of a baby doing something wrong, and doing something right on the opposite page. For example, one page shows a baby dumping a bowl on his head and “no, no” is written above it. The next page shows a baby eating out of a bowl and the words “yes, yes” is written above it. This is a very visual book on its own, and adding signs will make it even more visual and easier for your baby to understand.
Remember to keep in mind that it is not necessarily important for your child to be able to sign the words, but most important that parents sign them regularly. This will ensure that the child will recognize and understand the signs and know if they are doing something right or wrong.
Remember, I have a Free Video that Reveals my #1 Secret to Drastically Reducing Baby’s Crying and Temper Tantrums at http://www.babysignlanguageonline.com.
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