Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Baby signing

23 replies

HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 16:12

I recall about twenty or so years ago, teaching babies sign language was thought to reduce toddler frustration and thus tantrumming. Is this still A Thing and can anyone recommend suitable resources?

OP posts:
olderthanyouthink · 13/12/2021 16:18

Still the case and mr tumble even though I hate the silly man

ThePug · 13/12/2021 16:23

Yes definitely still a thing - look up Sing & Sign franchise, there may be a teacher & class near you. I did it with both mine (now 5 and 3) from when they were about 9 months - 18 months and it was absolutely amazing. Not just for being able to ask for things but as an insight to what was going through their heads when we were out & about (eg signing bird if they heard tweeting).

Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 16:30

Thanks. I should clarify I'm granny, and thinking about a present, maybe DVD? Is it BSL they teach, or a special baby language?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General education
MargaretThursday · 13/12/2021 16:35

I didn't do it with anything in particular.
I started with basic signs:
milk, food, drink
and for the younger pair did a few extra signs.

DD2 used to make up her own signs too. I remember "bus" was sticking her hand out, because when we were waiting for the bus, I'd say "bus" and put my hand out to get it.

I can't say whether it stopped frustration though.

purplepenguin2019 · 13/12/2021 16:36

RE: Sing and Sign - It's a mixture of simplified BSL/makaton and American sign language (they tend to pick whichever sign is easier for babies to physically sign).
We've been doing it and it's very helpful. There's in person classes that also come with at home video classes for each week (I think you can do the at home videos as a standalone too).

sausagepastapot · 13/12/2021 16:39

They certainly don't teach BSL, they borrow some signs from BSL.

Google courses in your area, look on social media.

Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 16:42

Sing and sign is available online! Grin I'm looking at the website...

OP posts:
littleowls83 · 13/12/2021 16:48

I would look at anything with Makaton rather than baby signing as different baby signing groups and franchises will potentially use different signs.

RaisedByPangolins · 13/12/2021 16:53

I did it with my 3. Was amazing - I can still remember some of the ‘sentences’ they made up using signs way before they could speak. DS1 (who is definitely on the spectrum, although undiagnosed) didn’t really speak until 2 years but was signing fluently from about 9-10 months to point things out and ask for things.

The others used the signs less (probably because I wasn’t as good at teaching them, being busier) and spoke earlier, but it definitely helped give a little window into their minds. I’d highly recommend it.

Particularly memorable ones were DD seeing the tiny snowman I’d built outside with DS2 and signing “milk cat” Grin

and DS2 sitting in the Bath surrounded by bubbles and signing (to himself almost) “it’s not milk, it’s water” as if he’d had a sudden realisation! So cute.

DS1 invented some of his own sides too, which became family folklore.

gogohm · 13/12/2021 17:03

My DD's learned asl at preschool (in USA) and it was quite good, one is autistic so helps a lot when she didn't get language until 4

Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 17:04

Thanks again everyone. S&S seems to be done as a 10 week term with set start dates even online, and I can't find prices. Any clues?

OP posts:
Pinkflipflop85 · 13/12/2021 17:07

@HirplesWithHaggis

Thanks again everyone. S&S seems to be done as a 10 week term with set start dates even online, and I can't find prices. Any clues?
Don't know how much it would be now but when we did sing and sign 7 years ago it was around £7 a week.
ladybranstonpickle · 13/12/2021 17:08

it was about £95 a term when I did it in 2020. Well worth it - we still listen to the songs in the car and my nearly 2 year old loves it! Big smiles as soon as she hears the opening bars.

TallulahsCurse · 13/12/2021 17:24

If you want to do it for the sake of doing it then go ahead but it's of absolutely no benefit developmentally whatsoever.

Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 17:24

And again, my thanks. I will discuss with the parents, don't want to be signing them up without consent! (AIBU to think MiL has a cheek dictating how I communicate with my baby?! Grin)

OP posts:
Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 17:27

X posted with TallulahsCurse, no developmental benefit? I thought easier communication would be a benefit, maybe even some of the benefits of bilingualism?

OP posts:
pastypirate · 13/12/2021 17:34

@TallulahsCurse

If you want to do it for the sake of doing it then go ahead but it's of absolutely no benefit developmentally whatsoever.
Came on to say the same....
Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 17:36

Can you elaborate?

OP posts:
TallulahsCurse · 13/12/2021 17:57

Well a neurotypical child will develop their languages skills with or without signing. They don't need to augment their regular development by using signs, quite simply.

If a child needed extra speech and language input due to communication needs, then yes signing like Makaton would form part of a 'total communication' approach which would be appropriate, but if this isn't the case there's no benefit whatsoever.

(I'm a specialist teacher)

Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 18:49

Thank you, food for thought. I am aware that DC raised bilingual from birth have advantages later learning more languages, does this not include BSL? I wonder if there's any research.

(But must pop off to make food.)

OP posts:
TallulahsCurse · 13/12/2021 19:03

@HirplesWithHaggis

Thank you, food for thought. I am aware that DC raised bilingual from birth have advantages later learning more languages, does this not include BSL? I wonder if there's any research.

(But must pop off to make food.)

So, baby signing, and BSL are not the same thing. Baby signing is based on Makaton, or in some areas SignAlong (both are similar and Makaton is the more common one). These are NOT the same as BSL. British Sign Language, as you say is something you could be "bilingual" in. It totally replaces spoken language so it's the full English language in signs.

Makaton, which is what is used for baby signing, is part of what is known as a Total Communication approach. It is used by hearing children, not deaf children (they would use BSL), and it is used to augment their understanding of what is being said to them. You only sign key words in a sentence that you really want to get the meaning of across, and you sign it as you say it. It does not at any point replace language and is only ever used with the spoken word.

This is why, for a neurotypical child, there is no reason to need to sign, nor would it give them any advantage or a second language, because they would actually just be understanding your spoken word anyway.

If you wanted your child to be "bi lingual" in signing you would have to learn and teach them full British Sign Language, which as I've explained is totally different both in how it looks and how it's used, to baby signing / Makaton.

Hope that helps!

Original poster
HirplesWithHaggis · 13/12/2021 19:57

Yes, that does help. Thank you very much, you've stopped me going off on a wild goose chase!

OP posts:
TallulahsCurse · 13/12/2021 20:20

@HirplesWithHaggis

Yes, that does help. Thank you very much, you've stopped me going off on a wild goose chase!
No worries! Glad to help.

No one wants a wild goose chase this close to Christmas!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page