Benefits
Using the Baby Signs Program stimulates intellectual development
Using the Baby Signs Program reduces frustration
Using the Baby Signs Program allows babies to share their worlds
Using the Baby Signs Program enhances self-esteem and confidence
Using the Baby Signs Program makes learning to talk easier
Using the Baby Signs Program Stimulates Intellectual Development
As fourteen-month-old Sam sat with his mother, Vanessa, on the bus, a young man with his hair in dreadlocks sat down across the aisle.
Obviously fascinated, Sam turned to his mother and patted his head. "Oh, honey, I know it looks like a hat, but it's really hair," whispered Vanessa in response, simultaneously making a brushing motion through her own hair, their agreed-upon sign for hair.
Sam turned back to the man, stared intently, and then again caught his mother's eye, this time patting his head with more vehemence.
By now the young man had become curious enough to ask Vanessa what was going on. "Patting his head is Sam's sign for hat. He thinks you're wearing a hat and he doesn't believe me when I tell him it's really your hair," she explained.
In response, the young man invited Sam to feel his dreadlocks for himself. So Sam did, and no sooner had his fingers touched the young man's hair, than Sam raised his hand to his own head, spread his fingers, and with eyes wide with surprise, performed the brushing action himself.
The message was as clear as if he had spoken the words: "It is hair!"
Using The Baby Signs Program Reduces Frustration!
Families enjoy reduced frustration and increased trust because babies have a way to communicate, and they know their parents and caregivers will understand their message. This means parents and babies experience less frustration!
There was no doubt about it; fifteen-month-old Emily was upset.
Her dad, Ed, had just returned to his easy chair after settling her down for her nap when the wailing began. Ed was puzzled. He thought he'd done everything right. Her diaper was fresh, her tummy was full, and her music box was playing. What could the problem be?
As he opened her door, one quick look at Emily's face told the story. There she stood, teary-eyed, furiously tapping an index finger against her lips. Immediately recognizing her sign for pacifier, Ed sighed with relief, pulled one out of a drawer, and handed it to her.
But Emily frowned and shook her head. Obviously something still wasn't right.
Fortunately for Ed, Emily then stuck out her hands, wrists together, and smacked her palms in a clapping motion. "A ha! That's your sign for "crocodile!" said Ed triumphantly. "You don't want just any pacifier; you want the one with the crocodile on it!"
Emily 's answering grin told him he'd gotten everything right at last - with a little Baby Signsﾮ help.
Using the Baby Signs Program Allows Babies to Share Their Worlds
Babies have a way to communicate about the world around them. Research shows that when parents follow a childs lead, and communicate about their babys interests, their interactions are qualitatively better. This increases respect for babies, and builds the trust relationship between babies and their parents and caregivers.
Because Baby Signsﾮ babies are able to communicate effectively with their caregivers, the number of negative interactions goes down and the number of positive interactions goes up. In other words, being together is a lot more fun when baby and caregiver can truly understand each other.
With signs, even very young children can "tell" their caregivers that they just saw a caterpillar, that they hear a dog barking, or that a bird just flew away.
They can let their caregivers know whether they are happy, sad, or even afraid.
In other words, life with a Baby Signsﾮ baby becomes a shared life --and with greater sharing comes a stronger, sweeter caregiver-infant bond.
Using the Baby Signs Program Enhances Infant Self-Esteem!
When babies have successful communicative interactions, they are more secure and trusting, and more likely to try to communicate again with an attentive and understanding parent.
Fourteen-month-old Austin was toddling around in the garage while his mom, Jackie, was sorting baby clothes for an upcoming garage sale.
Just as Jackie shifted a large box, a Daddy Longlegs scurried out, headed on a collision course with Austin.
Austin spied the big gangly spider right away. He looked at it and then to Jackie and signed "spider." Jackie was just about to say, "That's right, Austin, that is a spider," when Austin, with his sneaker-clad foot, stomped heavily on it, squishing it flat.
At that moment, Austin looked up at Jackie's surprised face and, with a big grin of accomplishment, signed "All gone."
And there was no doubt about it- that "spider" was indeed "all gone!"
Using the Baby Signs Strengthens the Parent-Infant and Caregiver-Infant Bond
Thirteen-month-old Bryce often had difficulty sleeping through the night.
One morning just before dawn, he awoke and began to cry. Bryce's dad, Norm, knew it was his turn and reluctantly crawled out of bed to try to coax Bryce back to sleep, typically not an easy job. Desperate for a new tactic, Norm took Bryce out onto the front porch, sat down on the glider, and began to swing back and forth. Norm felt frustrated sitting on the porch at 5:30 in the morning when he should have been upstairs in his cozy bed.
All that changed, however, when Bryce suddenly turned to his Dad and with a broad smile on his face did his Baby Sign for "Light!"
"Your right, Brycie!" replied Norm as he turned his eyes toward the horizon and saw what had entranced his son. Hugging Bryce close with a warm smile on his own face he continued, "It's the sun and it's bringing us light for another day!"
What had begun as a chore had suddenly turned into a shared moment of wonder, a moment that Norm continues to treasure to this day.
Using the Baby Signs Program Makes Learning To Talk Easier!
"We had such a marvelous Baby Signsﾮ experience!
Our families were skeptical at first, as was my husband, but they were all amazed as they watched us communicate.
My son maxed out at 65 signs when he switched over to talking.
He is now saying 6 and 7 word sentences, far ahead of the normal 4 word sentences for most 2-year-olds. I am now a complete advocate and have given away at least 20 copies of your book to pregnant friends and new moms!