- What is baby signing?
- History - how it developed and what the researchers discovered
- Simple tips for getting started with baby signing
- Examples of some baby signs that you can easily learn and teach to infants in your care
Also see a related article on what a parent and ECE service says about this: Parents sign up to get on kids' wave length And an article on ways teachers can integrate NZ sign language into the ECE setting and support Deaf children
What is baby signing?
Parents and people who work with babies and young children have always known that babies use gestures and facial expressions as well as cries and sounds to communicate, but in recent years many parents and educators have taken that a step further and actively taught babies sign language to help them communicate.
The concept of baby signing involves teaching babies a series of actions that represent everyday events such as wanting a drink, wanting a toy or having a tummy ache.
These signs are often based on the sign language used in the baby’s home country or are based on simple movements which are similar to the action they represent such as touching the mouth with fingers to represent wanting food.
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