Parents have always wanted to be able to communicate with
their children right from birth. Their feelings of helplessness in times of
crisis or stress can be very frustrating. Do not despair or panic. There is
now baby sign language.When baby cries
incessantly and mother is unable to make out what he wants despite checking
the diaper for wetness or touching baby's forehead to check if he is hot and
feverish, she can now use baby sign language.
What is Baby Sign Language?
• It is a new way of communicating with baby using
hand gestures, and common objects and actions associated with words.
• Mother would have been showing her baby many actions
and objects visually and orally while handling him and his needs daily. She
would have associated all the actions and objects she says to him with signs
or hand gestures
.
• She could also have been getting baby to touch the objects or feel the
actions with his hands and legs.
• Parents now have an added avenue to get baby to
communicate what he wants besides the true and time tested ways of being
able to only check on his needs physically or by instinct. The learning
abilities of baby are present before and at birth and are based on their
senses of sight, sound and touch. They can quickly associate what they hear,
see and touch with the signs mother uses daily while caring and playing with
him.
How do you Teach Baby Sign Language?
• Teaching this communication skill is mainly through
modeling.
• When you link simple words with signs baby can see,
hear and feel what you are doing. He might be too young to mimic you but he
is learning the meaning of what you are trying to tell and teach him.
• Always make your signing and articulating natural.
Never force baby to learn the sign language you are using to communicate
with him because you are overly keen and anxious to relieve his pain or meet
his needs. Let nature take its course and allow baby to associate actions,
words and objects with signs in his own time.
• As he develops and can use his hands, legs and
facial features better, he will already know the signs to use to communicate
with you even though he cannot speak. For example, whenever you are about to
give baby a bath [Refer for more details at
http://www.create-super-baby.com] sign and say "bath" and make an easy
sign like pointing to baby's soft bath towel or his tub. Make sure baby can
clearly see both the object and sign so that he can easily remember them.
Start slowly and add more signs and objects gradually.
• Another good word to teach is "happy". When you are
rubbing or massaging baby gently, singing to him, or doing anything that
makes baby relaxed whenever he seems to be very upset and is crying loudly,
pause regularly and say "happy", before continuing to rub, massage or sing.
Teaching your smart baby sign language makes him a
smarter baby. By the time he learns to speak, he would already know how to
use his repertoire of words to tell you his needs and wants.
Enjoy Motherhood.
Pat
