Baby Signing

Vicki Gilbert from Babies Can Sign with puppet Sam

Baby signing classes are very popular in the area. MoorMums has spoken to Melanie Macauley from Sing and Sign and to Vicki Gilbert from Babies Can Sign to find out more about what baby signing is and how it can help you communicate better with your baby.

Melanie Macauley from Sing and Sign with star pupil Kitty Quin

What is baby signing?

Baby signing is a method of getting your baby to communicate with you before they can talk through the use of signs. This is done through capitalising on a child’s natural inclination to copy adults and use gestures to communicate.

Melanie Macauley: For example babies may point, shake their heads, clap their hands and wave “bye-bye”. In addition to this, you can introduce some extra gestures to help your baby communicate things like milk, more, change nappy, or tired. You will be amazed by what your baby is capable of telling you before being able to talk!

Is the sign language used a recognised language?

Vicki Gilbert: At BabiesCanSing, we use British Sign Language Signs. Not only is it an existing language, it has as many signs as you require. It also gives participants another language and life skill to use in the wider community.

Melanie Macauley: At Sing and Sign, our signs are widely used by Speech and Language professionals, nurseries and schools across the UK. Sing and Sign is largely compatible with Signalong, Makaton and other sign supporting systems designed to be used WITH speech and based on the signs of British Sign Language (BSL).

Mums and babies at Babies Can Sign

What are the benefits of baby signing?

Melanie Macauley: The benefits of Sing and Sign are amazing. I attended classes with my two boys before I became a teacher and recently took over the franchise in December.

They are as follows:-

• Helping to understand your baby’s needs, thoughts and ideas
• Reducing frustration (for baby and parent!)
• Enhancing early vocabulary and understanding
• Encouraging the development of speech
• Enriching your baby’s relationships
• Building confidence and self-esteem
• Stimulating your baby’s intellectual and emotional development

Vicki Gilbert: Yes, I agree. There are SO many benefits of signing with hearing and deaf children, and those with other additional needs. I would add that:

• It’s FUN!
• Naturally builds on a child’s early ability and tendency to use gestures.
• You can create an excellent two-way communication before your baby has developed the oral skills to do so.
• Promotes freedom of expression.
• Increases concentration levels.
• Enables your little one to sign and express words they are not yet capable of pronouncing.

Will baby signing delay my baby’s speech?

Bubbles!

Melanie Macauley: Absolutely not! Signs are never used instead of words and your baby will be greatly encouraged to communicate verbally, not in any way discouraged. Baby signing is not a replacement for talking to your baby, in practice it encourages you to talk more! The use of gesture is a natural form of early communication and doesn’t get in the way of learning to talk, other than to give it a boost!

How do you teach baby signing?

Vicki Gilbert: Classes are taught through a variety of methods including stories, songs, rhymes, picture cards, handouts and games. We always have lots of fun and use puppets and lots of props e.g. musical instruments.  Watch this video of how our classes work:

Melanie Macauley: Sing and Sign combines the benefits of both music and baby signing. We teach a wide range of signs using some traditional and some specially written or adapted songs. What makes Sing and Sign special is that every sign used in song relates to those important first words of a baby’s world! Nappies and bath time, hiding games and bedtime. You name it, we have a song about it, and the babies just love to hear them!

Sounds like fun, when can babies start learning to sign?

Vicki Gilbert: We recommend you start bringing your baby to classes from 6 months or when they start to sit.  At this age, babies may be starting to use natural gestures such as waving and pointing, so it’s a great time to build on this.

Don’t expect immediate results though, babies will only begin to sign back to you on average between 10 and 13 months.

Classes

Why not sign up to baby signing classes now! Details of Sing and Sign classes as well as Babies Can Sign classes are available on MoorMums. There are also free taster sessions to see what you think.