Learning Sign Language For Babies is Almost as Easy as Moving Your Hands!

Learning sign language to help your baby express his or her basic needs and desires does not have to be a chore. Nor should you or your baby feel overwhelmed by the experience in any way. Truth be told, it is actually quite easy to learn baby sign language - probably much easier than you think.

ASL sign for BABY

What is interesting about learning sign language is that many of the signs are iconic, meaning they look like the word or action they represent. Once you start reviewing the most common signs used with babies, you may find that you already know or are able to decipher a bunch of them. Chances are, too, that you’ll realize that you knew or understood these signs without anyone first showing you what they were. Take, for example, the ASL sign for BABY. Without ever being shown the sign, I bet you can easily figure out how that sign is made. That’s right; it looks exactly like you are cradling a baby in your arms. See how easy that is, and you didn't even need to peek over at the photo shown here to figure that one out, did you!

One variation of
the ASL sign DOG

The signs for UP, DOWN, HELLO, GOOD-BYE, and even HUG are ones you probably not only know but have most likely used many times before! Have you ever patted the top of your thigh to call a dog? You have. Then guess what - you were doing one of the versions of the ASL sign for DOG. Quite a few of the signs you and your baby will want to know use hand movements that are characteristic of the object or action they symbolize, thereby making them not only easily recognizable but simple to memorize and recall, as well.

Are you expecting a child and think that you will not have the time to start learning sign language for babies? Believe it or not, many couples decide to start learning how to sign before their little bundle of joy is even born! The thought is that once baby arrives, they may be so busy taking care of their newborn that they will not have time to catch their breath, let alone learn anything new. I can personally attest to this train of thought. My daughter was so high maintenance when she was born that had I not already known some sign language, I may never have given it a try. By learning sign language before baby is born, you can practice signing and get comfortable using them routinely.

While it may be convenient to learn baby sign language before baby arrives, most of you already have your little ones in tow and are now looking for training options that fit into the very hectic schedule of someone with a newborn, infant, toddler or preschooler! Our BSLA website aside, the opportunities for learning are limited only by your personal learning style and preference. In addition to this site, there are a multitude of other great websites and online resources to choose from. Some, like this site, focus mainly on using sign language with infants and young children, while others offer information and lessons about American Sign Language (or the sign language of the website owner’s origin).

Do you like the feel of a book in your hands and enjoy curling up with one after you put your baby to bed? Start with your local library. You should be able to find a selection of books you can peruse before deciding whether one is worth buying. When you do find one to your liking, you may discover your local bookseller does not carry it in stock. Naturally, you can ask if they can get the book for you or, if you don’t mind buying online, you can purchase it directly from any online book retailer, where it is generally easy to find any book you want. Some books even come with supporting software you can use on your computer for a more interactive learning experience.

Because the very nature of sign language is movement and motion, learning sign language vocabulary from a book can present a few challenges. Luckily, there are some wonderful DVDs on the market. Some are set to music and have inspiring songs and show babies and young children signing so that you can get an idea of what it may look like when your child begins to sign.

Finally, if you are the kind of person who learns better by interacting with others, signing playgroups, workshops and classes would be a good choice for you. A search on the Web can reveal if there are any programs in your general location. If you cannot find one, consider contacting someone from one of the popular baby sign language brands and ask about getting classes in your area. You can also start your own baby-signing playgroup and learn from others in your community who are already signing with their little ones.

Learning to sign is a goal that is easy to achieve, especially when you consider all the options that are available to help you get there. Once you start familiarizing yourself with the signs, you will be astonished by how simple many of them are to use and remember. After a while, you might even agree that learning sign language for babies is almost as easy as moving your hands!