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Even if your child is not hearing impaired, I would highly recommend introducing sign language to your baby. This gives your baby another way to communicate before they have the words to do so and can also be an important tool later on in life.

Who knows what they might encounter in a work place or school setting where the situation may call for some sign language skills. Aside from giving your child an early means of communication, there are many benefits of teaching babies sign language.

Even if your child only knows a few signs or the alphabet, this can still be a huge help. For purposes of this post, I’m covering ASL or American Sign Language.

Sign language gives babies a way to communicate before speech develops. Here are 3 benefits of teaching sign language to babies.

Benefits of Teaching Sign Language to Babies, includes recommended books and free printables

When can babies learn sign language?

I’m not sure where or why I developed an interest in learning sign language, but I do remember having several sign language books and dictionaries as a child. I also remember watching Linda Bove on Sesame Street and wondering what she was doing with her hands.

Sign language, to me, has always been a source of fascination rather than a means of communication.

But now, with Sweet B being largely non-verbal, sign language has also become a means of communication. She can understand basic sign language and I can communicate with her using sign language. This has been a huge help at home as it gives her a way to express her wants and needs.

Likewise, with a baby that hasn’t yet developed their vocabulary, simple sign language can give them a means of communication. By starting with signs such as “more”, “eat”, “please”, “drink”, and “sleep” you are providing your baby a way to functionally communicate with you.

No it won’t always be easy and consistency is definitely key. But by starting early, you’re giving your baby a small measure of independence.

How can you teach sign language to babies?

You can also incorporate sign language into teaching the alphabet by signing along while you sing. I do this with Squeaker and I’ve noticed that she pays just as much attention to my fingers as she does to my mouth.

I’m interested to see if or when she’ll start signing along with me.

My knowledge of sign language is limited and while I would love to say that I’m fluent… I’m far from it. But that doesn’t stop me from teaching Squeaker in our every day routines. For example, I’ll sign “good morning” to her in addition to saying it to her. I’ll sign “more” or “please” and use other signs in appropriate settings.

She hasn’t quite caught on with it yet, but that’s also my own fault for not being consistent with her.

You can start introducing sign language with your baby as early as six months. Or you can wait until your baby is a little bit older, around 16 to 18 months of age, and start then. It’s up to you as to when you start.

Benefits of teaching sign languages to babies

BabySignLanguage.com lists the following reasons:

*practical (less frustration and more fun),

*emotional (closer bonding with parents),

*cognitive (boost brain development)

Here are some helpful resources for introducing sign language:

YouTube Videos-

* ASL For Infants and Toddlers

* Baby Einstein- My First Signs

* Baby Sign Language- Top 20 Signs

20 Books for Teaching Sign Language to Babies

The following links are affiliate links for your convenience.

                         

&

Free Printable ASL ALphabet Posters

Well, really just one printable with a variation too it. I’m offering up a sign language alphabet printable (standard printer paper size). One is just the signs and other other includes signs with the letters underneath it. Print on card stock to make it last longer.

With Letters || Without Letters

By downloading you are agreeing to my Terms of Use

And if you’re in need of more free printables, don’t forget to check out my ASL Printable Flashcards!
Come download this free ASL flashcards pack.

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Kori

Digital Product Creator at Kori at Home
Kori is a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD mom. She is currently located in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodiverse family. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and Anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP/Gifted. A blogger, podcaster, writer, product creator, and coach; Kori shares autism family life- the highs, lows, messy, and real. Kori brings her own life experiences as an autistic woman combined with her adventures in momming to bring you the day-to-day of her life at home. Kori is on a mission to empower moms of autistic children to make informed parenting decisions with confidence and conviction.

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Amber Louchart (Metro Detroit Mommy)
9 years ago

I have done sign language with all three of my children. It is awesome to be able to communicate with them before they can talk. I think it also helps develop their language at an early age. Thanks for sharing this great article:)

Robin (Masshole Mommy)
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
9 years ago

When my youngest was in early intervention for a speech delay, the therapist used sign language to help him learn.

Fi Ní Neachtáin
Fi Ní Neachtáin
9 years ago

This is great! A lot of the cartoons my son watches incorporate sign language into them, I’ve even learnt some myself from watching them with him.

Aisha Kristine Chong
9 years ago

Though I am not a mom yet this is so interesting!

Angelic Sinova
9 years ago

I’ve learned (through school, I’m not a mom or even close to being one) that it is so important to teach babies languages while they are still young. I remember they tried to teaches sign language in preschool. I can still do the whole alphabet <3

Trisha
9 years ago

I actually worked in childcare and sign language was incorporated in a lot of curriculums we used! It was a lot of fun teaching the little ones ASL and I even started using sign language with my daughter when she was a baby. We weren’t consistent but she still knew a few signs!

Eileen
9 years ago

It’s always great to teach children different ways of communicating. Thanks for the educational post!

Echo
9 years ago

I do think that signing can be very helpful! My daughter could sign a few things before she could talk.

Tonya C
9 years ago

Great information. I agree that sign language is a good thing for babies to learn so they can communicate before they can talk.

ourfamilyworld
9 years ago

IN general, teaching a child another language is great; they absorb it and learn so fast!

celebbabylaundry
9 years ago

This is such a smart thing to do, it would be great for the child to also speak sign language!

Rebecca Swenor
Rebecca Swenor
9 years ago

This is interesting to me indeed. I had a friends years ago that was teaching her babies sign language and I think it is an awesome thing to due. It hurts no child to learn different language in my opinion.

Tanya Coffman
9 years ago

My middle son was non-verbal till after he was 4…so he was taught sign at his daycare. The only problem I had was trying to keep up with learning what he was learning so I knew what he was trying to communicate. That was a rough time, but I’m so glad now that he’s older he still remembers some and is able to communicate with another little boy at church. 😀

Yona Williams
9 years ago

I think it’s really cool to expand the different ways in which a child can communicate. Also, I think it really helps kids who have speech difficulties. Plus…it;s fun. I learned the alphabet in sign language, and I felt good that I knew it.

Crystal
8 years ago

I’m so glad you are writing about sign language instruction for little ones!! Sign language is very important for infants as most infants are too young to be diagnosed with childhood learning disorders. If they have a bank of sign words or are familiar with sign they will be that much ahead in early intervention. I started at 3mos with my kids. My oldest is 20 and gifted my 6 year old son was diagnosed with Autism. He had words but regressed and stop talking. Luckily he had retained the sign words. Sign benefits all types of children. Can’t say… Read more »

Claire
8 years ago

I cannot tell enough people how awesome ASL with babies is. I started learning with my oldest when she was 5mo old, and it helped so much. We actively continued to learn even after she could talk. Because of this, my second baby (13mo) easily has 50 plus signs that she can use. It’s just plain amazing. She can tell me that she knows what animal is under the flaps in her lift the flap books, she can tell me what she wants to eat, where she wants to go, who she hears, what she sees – she’s totally part… Read more »