Baby signing
A new program on offer for babies, Baby Signing, has many moms asking about this new fad. This month Meg Faure will be enrolling her baby in a group to determine the value of this form of communication. She will keep you updated on the results. Kim Foster, mom and teacher and now Baby Signing expert enlightens us her views of the value on Baby Signing. Imagine being able to hold a two-way conversation with a 10 month old, or share a joke with a 14 month infant!
This is possible through the use of sign language with hearing babies. Pre-verbal babies can communicate their needs, share their secrets and air their views by signing to their parents, carers or teachers.
Sign language for babies is a thoroughly researched phenomenon, which is new to SA. Two leading American doctors conducted the research in the 1980s, which was funded by the Departments of Health and Human Development. There were 103 infants involved, all within days of 11 months. Their progress was tested, filmed and documented regularly and carefully over an eight year period. The results were positively astounding.The 6 main advantages concluded were:
A reduction in frustration.
Less crying and fewer tantrums as infants can now tell you what they want/ feel/ see/ hear. Closer bonds between the babies and their parents due to a mutual understanding.
Enhanced language and listening development.
Children are encouraged to sign new words, exposing them to a greater vocabulary. Signing is a pre-cursor to talking, just as crawling is to walking.
Increased IQ.
The children who signed, in the research, scored an average 12 points higher when tested at the age of 8.
A boost in self esteem.
Confidence is increased as they become more involved in conversations and feel more valued.
A window is provided into their world.
They now reveal their thoughts, feelings, ideas, needs etc. this helps you to realise their understanding of the world around them.
Baby signing is also beneficial to bilingual learners or infants exposed to more than one language, which is prevalent in SA with its 11 official languages. Words that sound very different, e.g. dog, hond, mpša, inja now share 1 sign and the link is made.
Signing workshops are run country wide by various groups, such as totcom. These workshops will enable you to start signing with your baby and help you to discover the wonderful benefits of early communication through signing which will give you new insight into the mind of your baby.
Meg’s note: Until I experience the groups with my baby I cannot comment, except to say that moms must remember not to over stimulate or over schedule their babies. A program such as this may well hold value but must never put stress on the mother-infant relationship whilst on the program.
The book, For Before Words, is also available for sale as a stand-alone resource.
For more information about signing workshops and the book, contact Kim on 084 663 2448 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it totcom is on the web at www.totcom.co.za
It was written by Kim Foster, a Cape Town based Baby Sign language teacher with www.totcom.co.za
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