Convert Your Kitchen Into a Baby Sign Language Classroom

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Many of our babies are quickly becoming active and inquisitive toddlers. As parents and educators we are to join our little ones side-by-side as they discover the world around them and learn new skills that will remain with them for a lifetime.

 

 

Both SAHM and working moms often find themselves in the kitchen preparing meals and snacks for the family. Keeping a toddler busy and engaged while taking care of food preparation can be challenging to say the least. Last week I received an email and photo from my friend Julie telling me how she has incorporated baby sign language to cooking time in her home. Here are Julie’s best tips. We hope they are helpful to you as we head into the holiday season and we are even more likely to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen.

Pick a Weekly Theme

Each week Julie picks a theme for her little girl. The theme is based around what Julie plans to cook or special occasions and holidays. To date they have worked on a unit focused on fruits, another one on snacks and most recently they are working on learning everything associated with a birthday.

Signing in the kitchen

Provide Hands-On Opportunities

This week Julie will be baking a cake. Her little girl will help and have several opportunities to taste and touch the ingredients. Because the focus is chocolate cake Julie has created a chocolate-themed scrapbook with wrappers from different brands of chocolate candy bars.

Create a Flashcard Wall

Julie prints full size flashcards from our free digital resources page relevant to her weekly theme and displays the flashcards on the refrigerator.

Use The Opportunity to Introduce Your Toddler to Letters

Julie keeps a magnetic alphabet handy and she is teaching her little girl the first letter for each of the words that they are learning how to sign together.

Practice Outside the Home

As part of using the kitchen experience as an opportunity to teach baby sign language Julie is also incorporating on-the-go contextual teaching. When Julie heads to the grocery store she is showing her little girl other instances related to the words of the week. They walk through the bakery and see different cakes or visit the baking goods section and Julie points to the boxed cake mix while signing cake.

 

If you are ready to up your game when it comes to teaching your baby how to sign go check our new Baby Sign Language Kits. We have added new books and interactive media inclusive of puppets and soft toys.

 

A Sweet & Encouraging Baby Sign Language Story From India

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We are  Alok and Aswathy and we are deaf parents, working professionals and founders of r of Talking Hands India a sign language resource  in India dedicated to teaching ISL. As a sign language-dependent family it was important for us to introduce our hearing baby to signing early on in his development; that led us to some research and subsequently we purchased baby sign language kit from www.babysignlanguage.com. Here in India we do not have a baby sign language resource and we wanted a simplified method for our little one to get started.  I am comfortable with the basics of American Sign Language as it was my primary signing language prior to learning ISL. My wife  Aswathy grew in deaf culture in India so she is a fluent ISL speaker. At home we began combining ISL with Baby Signs and we came up with basic signs that worked for us and equipped us to empower our baby the best that we could.

We were amazed and extra happy when Evan started singing when he was just four months old. His first sign was milk. At five months he began signing eat contextually. Our hearts could not stop smiling with pride!

One funny thing during 5-6 month was when he was in need of milk he used to get up and sign it alone as tired parents we frequently neglected to see that he was signing. When he became frustrated because he was not getting what he needed he began tapping us and voila, magic began to happen.  To fix the problem we began leaving the lights on so we could be quicker to identify his needs.

We think that teaching sign language keeps him less frustrated and happier. That is very important to us.  His next signs which he mastered between month 8 and 9 included grandfather and father. Evan loves watching signing videos and follows along with excitement . Many of the signs Evan Evan knows and uses were the result of his engagement with the videos. He is very smart and observant and constantly surprises us.

Now he is 14 months old. He can sign papa, Grandpa ,fan ,milk, eat ,light and bye . As well can speak papa ,grandpa ,bye bye and Amma /Aaai (Mother ) with little effort. Evan can hear so we are also working on his speech.

We wish to see him singing many more signs before he turns 2. As well we will be very proud when he will write sign Language as his mother tongue.

Baby Sign Language for Autumn & Cooler Days

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I am counting the days until my favorite season arrives. Shorter cooler days, two awesome family holidays and milder weather to spend outdoors are just some of the reasons we are stoked about autumn. Now that your kids have gone back to school and you are enjoying the very last days of the summer it is time to start afresh and put together a variety of adventure conducive to learning and bonding.

 

 

For many of you this will be a time of discovery as you introduce your babies and toddlers to new concepts and work on enriching their vocabulary. If your baby is between 12 months and 3 years of age consider the following fall activities:

  • Photo Scavenger Hunt-Print several flashcards from common outdoor objects and let your toddler help you locate the objects in their surroundings. Take a photo of the object with your phone or point and shoot and print the photo for your little one to match with the baby sign language flashcard. Work on learning the sign while you learn to make connections between real objects and images.
  • Crafts with Leaves-Spend time collecting leaves of different colors and teach baby to glue their leaves following an outline or pattern. You can create seasonally-themed images such as a turkey or a jack-o-lantern.
  • Fun in the Kitchen-Let your baby help and become familiar with new seasonal dishes from cranberry-based snacks to pumpkin treats. You can tape relevant flashcards to your refrigerator and help your toddler learn about new foods.
  • Visiting a Pumpkin Patch- This is one of my favorite fall activities. A great chance to learn signs for new fruits, new treats and animals from the petting zoo.
  • Get Ready for Halloween- Fun galore is just around the corner. If this is your baby’s first or second Halloween it is a great opportunity to incorporate fun signs related to dressing up and enjoying seasonal treats.

Our favorite fall baby signs:

Leaf

Apple

Candy

Turkey

Dinner

Mask

Corn

Pumpkin

Spider

Potato

Gloves

Flashlight

Let’s print, learn and share these new words. Join us on our Facebook community with your questions or to share your videos and photos of baby signing.

 

Make it your goal to learn at least six new baby signs during this very special season. Many of our baby sign language resources are available for free and are easily printable from your home computer. We also have super affordable kits with all the resources currently in use by speech therapists and renowned daycares worldwide.

If you are ready to start communicating with your baby we encourage you to take advantage of our collection of digital and printed resources.

 

 

baby sign language kit

The Standard Baby Sign Language Kit, bundles together everything you need to get started with signing in one box, at a steep discount. The kit includes: (1) Baby Sign Language Guide Book; (2) Baby Sign Language Dictionary: (3) Baby Sign Language Flash Cards; and (4) Baby Sign Language Wall Chart.

Baby Sign Language Guide Book shows you how to teach your child how to sign. The book begins with a Quick Start Guide that will teach you your first signs and having you ready to sign in 30 minutes. As your baby progresses, you can delve into more advanced topics like combining signs to make phrases, using props, and transitioning to speech. (Regularly $19.95)

Baby Sign Language Dictionary contains over 600 signs including the most common words, the alphabet and numbers. The dictionary helps you expand your child’s vocabulary, and has the breadth of coverage that lets you follow any child’s natural interests. Each sign is illustrated with two or more diagrams, showing you the starting position, the ending position, and intermediate motion. This makes learning new signs easy.  (Regularly $19.95)

Baby Sign Language Flash Cards include 52 sturdy board (4×6 inches) flash cards, covering a variety of basic signs. The flash cards allow you to teach words, such as animal names, that Baby is not exposed to in everyday life. The face of the flash cards shows the word and image for the child. The back of the flash cards show how the sign is performed, a handy reminder for the adult.  (Regularly $24.95)

Baby Sign Language Wall Chart includes 22 basic signs, and makes a handy reminder for caregivers. The Baby Sign Language Wall Chart covers basic signs, like eat, drink, and sleep. Hang the poster in Baby’s Nursery to help babysitters, or other occasional caregivers learn and decode the most commonly used baby signs.  (Regularly $9.95)

100% Signing Guarantee

Your baby signs to your complete satisfaction, or you get a full refund.

No questions. No time limits. No regrets.

Baby Sign Language Guide Book

Learn the best techniques for effectively teaching baby sign language. Including:

•  Quick Start Guide – learn the first 10 signs and the basic principles required to start teaching your baby to sign (Chapter 1).

•  Advanced Teaching Methods – use teaching aids like books, flash cards, and toys to keep lessons interesting and challenging (Chapter 5).

•  Phrases – teach your baby to combine signs and communicate more complex thoughts (Chapter 6).

•  Taming the Terrible Twos – reduce frustration and tantrums by enabling your toddler to communicate (Chapter 7).

•  Transitioning to Speech – use sign language to expedite and improve speech development (Chapter 8).

baby sign language kit

Sarah learned her first 10 signs at six month and it made our lives much easier. Instead of screaming, she could tell us when she was hungry, thirsty, or tired. She learned another 50 signs by nine months and that was a blast. Now she is talking much earlier than the other children in her preschool and we think it is because of her signing.

We can’t imagine missing out on all the little things she shared with baby sign language. Thank You!

Back to School Stress? Five Baby Signs to Help Your Toddler Transition Successfully

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For most of us this week was marked by transitions. Social media feeds with first day of school pictures, last minute errands and a deep sense of anxiety for everyone as we face the natural challenges of a new grade, new routines and new friends. If you have toddlers going to daycare for the first time don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to stay with them the first, second or third day.

Will Their Needs Be Met?

There is an unspoken language between parents and babies that allows for you to instinctually meet basic needs. You know every expression and can interpret every cry and whine. When the time comes to drop them at daycare you will question the capacity of the caregivers to cater to your child the way you do it at home. If this is you, you are not alone. The sentiment is prevalent among most parents and it is absolutely valid. The reality is that your baby as well as their caregivers will go through a transitional period in which they will learn more about each other. With a little luck, within weeks there will be a new normal.

What About Asking For Help?

Your little one has needs. Needs for food, comfort and rest which are best met if he or she is able to convey preferences. At home these needs are quickly met without having to compete with other children for the attention of the caregiver. At daycare things change. With this in mind one of the best things we can do for our little ones is to empower them with communication tools that can help create a seamless transition.

Every toddler is different thus each parent should customize their sign deck to match the needs of their little one. Here are a few categories to help you select the best baby signs for your toddler:

 

Favorite Foods

Your baby needs to be able to communicate if he is thirsty or hungry. Additionally, you want to give them signs for their favorite foods. Pick signs like cracker, water, juice, berries, grapes, cheese and milk. Also give your baby signs like more and all done.

Favorite Toys

In their first daycare interactions your little one will be challenged with concepts like sharing and other play-related dynamics. Give them baby signs for things like their favorite toy or blanket as well as signs for common toys available at their daycare. We love signs like blocks, playground, swing, slide, doll, truck, share and mine. We also like teaching signs like take turns.

Feelings & Fears

This is where baby sign language is most useful. Teach your baby signs that let them convey discomfort, fear etc. We love to teach signs like, afraid, happy, sad, sleepy, frustrated and funny.

Places & People

Relationships with people can be a source of stress or a source of comfort for your baby. Teach them signs like mom, dad, nanny, teacher, friend and sister. Also include signs like doctor and nurse.

If you are ready to start communicating with your baby we encourage you to take advantage of our collection of digital and printed resources.

 

 

baby sign language kit

The Standard Baby Sign Language Kit, bundles together everything you need to get started with signing in one box, at a steep discount. The kit includes: (1) Baby Sign Language Guide Book; (2) Baby Sign Language Dictionary: (3) Baby Sign Language Flash Cards; and (4) Baby Sign Language Wall Chart.

Baby Sign Language Guide Book shows you how to teach your child how to sign. The book begins with a Quick Start Guide that will teach you your first signs and having you ready to sign in 30 minutes. As your baby progresses, you can delve into more advanced topics like combining signs to make phrases, using props, and transitioning to speech. (Regularly $19.95)

Baby Sign Language Dictionary contains over 600 signs including the most common words, the alphabet and numbers. The dictionary helps you expand your child’s vocabulary, and has the breadth of coverage that lets you follow any child’s natural interests. Each sign is illustrated with two or more diagrams, showing you the starting position, the ending position, and intermediate motion. This makes learning new signs easy.  (Regularly $19.95)

Baby Sign Language Flash Cards include 52 sturdy board (4×6 inches) flash cards, covering a variety of basic signs. The flash cards allow you to teach words, such as animal names, that Baby is not exposed to in everyday life. The face of the flash cards shows the word and image for the child. The back of the flash cards show how the sign is performed, a handy reminder for the adult.  (Regularly $24.95)

Baby Sign Language Wall Chart includes 22 basic signs, and makes a handy reminder for caregivers. The Baby Sign Language Wall Chart covers basic signs, like eat, drink, and sleep. Hang the poster in Baby’s Nursery to help babysitters, or other occasional caregivers learn and decode the most commonly used baby signs.  (Regularly $9.95)

100% Signing Guarantee

Your baby signs to your complete satisfaction, or you get a full refund.

No questions. No time limits. No regrets.

Baby Sign Language Guide Book

Learn the best techniques for effectively teaching baby sign language. Including:

•  Quick Start Guide – learn the first 10 signs and the basic principles required to start teaching your baby to sign (Chapter 1).

•  Advanced Teaching Methods – use teaching aids like books, flash cards, and toys to keep lessons interesting and challenging (Chapter 5).

•  Phrases – teach your baby to combine signs and communicate more complex thoughts (Chapter 6).

•  Taming the Terrible Twos – reduce frustration and tantrums by enabling your toddler to communicate (Chapter 7).

•  Transitioning to Speech – use sign language to expedite and improve speech development (Chapter 8).

baby sign language kit

Sarah learned her first 10 signs at six month and it made our lives much easier. Instead of screaming, she could tell us when she was hungry, thirsty, or tired. She learned another 50 signs by nine months and that was a blast. Now she is talking much earlier than the other children in her preschool and we think it is because of her signing.

We can’t imagine missing out on all the little things she shared with baby sign language. Thank You!

Elise’s Baby Sign Language Story – This is How Baby Signs Saved The Day

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Elise

Growing up I always heard my grandparents saying: ” Learn as much as you can as early as you can, and as quickly as you can. You Never know when you are going to need the knowledge”.  Preparing for the unknown became second nature in our home. A few days ago I received the sweetest of notes from a mom whose baby signing story reminded me of this approach to life.

When it comes to baby signing you may think is a nice party trick or a way to keep your child busy while challenging their brain and their body. While this is true, baby sign language can be a life-saver if you happen to have a child with speech delays. Thanks to the insistence of a friend, Elise was fortunate to learn signs early on in life. In her mama’s own words:

 

“I’m a first time mom to my now three year old daughter. I never imagined that she would have a speech delay. It was never a thought. I just assumed if you constantly talked to your baby and actively played with them that they would naturally catch onto speech, but that wasn’t the case for my daughter Elise.

Elise

 

    When Elise was one year old, I had a friend from church tell me that I should start teaching her signs. She said my daughter was old enough to understand and that I would be able to communicate with her before she even said her first word. I thought it was a nice idea to be able to communicate back and forth, but it sounded exhausting trying to learn sign language myself and then teaching it to my daughter. I also figured she would be talking in a few short months anyway so I really didn’t want to take the time. Months passed and I found myself a couple of weeks before Elise’s second birthday and she had yet to say any words. Our communication at this point was her pointing, screaming, and grunting. At this point, I decided that I needed to do something different. From that day forward I decided that I would teach her some basic signing words so we could communicate with each other. Almost daily I was on the baby sign language Facebook page and website learning all I could so that I could pass it on to my daughter. Once I started working with Elise on signing she just blossomed. She really enjoyed learning sign language and was catching on quite quickly. In just a few short months she had learned and memorized almost a 100 words and for almost a year signing was her main form of communication.

    I wish I had listened to my friend and started teaching Elise sign language at a younger age. I am truly grateful for baby sign language and the many resources that they have readily available. It has made it so much easier to learn and teach my daughter sign language.”

Kautri S. 

If you are a new parent and you are wondering what you should teach your little one during the first and second year we encourage you to consider baby sign language. For decades, parents all over the world have enjoyed the advantage of pre-verbal communication. If you are ready to get started why not add the Ultra Baby Sign Language Kit. This kit contains our own resources as well as the best of the best from The Baby Signing Time collection. You get 16 resources for less than $120. What a value!