Jenny West, LM, CPM, CHt
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When Should We Start Signing with our Baby? Is it Ever Too Early? Too Late?
by Amylee Udell

In short, right now is a perfect time!

At the Sign2Me conference in September 2006, Joseph Garcia, author of Sign with your Baby, said he regretted suggesting an age in the book. It gives people the idea that there's a small window of opportunity, when it is really quite wide. His suggested age of six month does have advantages. First, new parents are settling in to their routines and perhaps getting a little more sleep. The additional step of signing before everyday tasks won't be too overwhelming. Next, most babies start eating around this age and mealtimes are a GREAT time to introduce signs.

But even though these are good reasons, families can definitely start sooner. Starting sooner gives you time to establish signing as the habit it should become. Since consitency is vital to your signing success, the earlier, the better! Studies have shown that the more a baby is talked to directly, the better verbal skills and vocabularly the baby attains as a child. Obviously, it is best to talk to our babies A LOT. We don't withhold verbal language from them because they can't yet understand it. Similarly, we can start signing and signing a lot with very young babies. Surrounding them with signs and words will only improve their future communication skills at an even earlier age. The only time I suggest purposely waiting to start signing is if you need quick results to stay motivated. You will not see your six-month old baby sign back to you the week you start. You WILL see an older baby (over one year old) sign back that soon IF you use the signs consistently.

So, if you have an older baby, it's not too late. And if you have a talking child, it's still not too late! Signing clarifies the words your baby has trouble pronouncing. If you have a toddler, it's not too late. Signing helps them communicate more complex words and concepts, such as the emotions that tend to overwhelm toddlers. If you have a preschooler/kindergartner/early reader, it's still not too late! Signing with hearing children gives them an impressive literacy boost.

Whatever your child's age, sign with him or her. The benefits are great at any age. It's never too early and it's never too late.

To learn more about signing at your child's developmental stage, join us on September 27 for the Intro to Infant ASL class and follow up workshop. You'll learn plenty of signs to get you going!

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