March 30, 2010

The Beginning

Posted by Kristi at 9:30 PM

I'm starting this blog because I want all parents to teach their children to sign.
Is that too bold to say?
It's true.
I have not found one single parenting technique out there that can boast the benefits of teaching your children to sign.

I promise I'm not crazy, or some maniacal, sign language proponent that is here to make you feel inadequate as a parent if you don't choose to teach sign.

I'm not that heartless. Of course I don't judge you if this wasn't a choice you made. However, I'm still going to convince you to talk to other people about it!

My first introduction to signing with a hearing baby came a month after my first child was born. A friend was over visiting and simply asked if I was going to teach my baby to sign. Apparently, she had a relative that taught their daughter and it was "amazing"! My first reaction? Won't that keep my baby from speaking? No, I'm not doing it.

If my friend had known anything about it, she could have convinced me to do it right there on the spot. Instead, I put the thought away; until I was searching the internet one day and came upon Baby Signs. This program boasted being the original sign language for babies, and had somewhere near 20 years experience actually testing the differences in children who do and don't sign.

Turns out that teaching your baby to sign has been proven to do a few things:

>Reduce Frustration
>Strengthen Bonds
>Promote positive emotional development
>Boost your baby's self confidence
>Help your baby learn to talk sooner
>Provide a jumpstart in intellectual development (we're talking higher IQ's people!!)

Who wouldn't want these things for their child? You can't tell me your not at least curious.

So, here we go, this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Follow my blog for the latest information on signing with your baby. Along the way I'll share my own personal experiences and even help you get started or spread the word. As an Independent Certified Instructor for the Baby Signs(R) Program I will be holding classes and demonstrations in Metro-Detroit and the surrounding areas.

Remember the most important thing about signing with your baby is COMMUNICATION! Imagine being able to talk to your baby before he/she can talk.....

3 comments:

Maria on April 2, 2010 at 8:54 PM said...

Woo I'm your first follower!

http://www.changediapers.blogspot.com

Liz Boyatt said...

Okay, I am being totally serious about this. We have talked about this and when we do start our family we want to use sign language. So would it be silly to start right from the day one or should we wait until the baby is a few months old?

Kristi on April 3, 2010 at 3:31 PM said...

It's not necessary to start right from birth. Babies that young are developing is so many different ways that signing wouldn't really do much.
I started with my first when she was 5 months old. She made her first sign back at 8 months old. Just know that the earlier you start, the longer it will take for them to sign back. And only becuase they need to develop their motor skills in order to sign.
Starting around 7-9 months is a pretty good time to start. :)

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