Baby Signing - any long term experiences?

[MmeLindt]

I am writing an article about Language and Communication for a local voluntary magazine (ie. I am not getting paid so I hope this is ok to put it in this topic rather than media requests).

Part of my article is about Baby Signing which I used to do with an English Playgroup in Germany. The DC in the group seemed to pick it up pretty well but I left Germany when they were just over a year so have no idea how their long-term development was.

Did anyone do Baby Signing and find that it helped their DC?

I signed in Makaton with DS who is now 4. I thought it really helped him through the stage when he had lots that he wanted to communicate, but didn't have the verbal ability to do so. It also encouraged him to verbalise as he could back up what he wanted to say with sign, and be understood.

He used signs for a lot longer to back himself up, and to reinforce particular items - for instance he still signs please and thank you if he really wants to impress as to how much he wants something. Even though he can say that in another couple of languages

Thanks, CMOT. That is interesting. Is he bilingual then?

No, just likes to learn the words for things in different languages - he does french lessons at nursery, and has picked up the spanish from Handy Manny

That is sweet.

How many words did you sign? What were the first ones you used, and the ones he still uses?

Gosh, don't know how many - quite a lot though as can do all the animals, foods etc. Something Special was the way we learnt, so not structured.

Think his first sign was 'finished' or 'more', and he still does animals (the lady that does their french uses gestures to reinforce words, and he will sign properly alongside those), and please and thank you. But I watched him watching SS the other day, and he was signing with it happily, so he might do more if prompted by someone else signing

Thanks, CMOT. That has helped a lot.

Oh, thanks Justa. Have done.

MmeLindt, there was an article in the Psychologist magazine not so long ago on baby signing, don't know if this is useful here.

Hope it helps!

Thanks, Apuski. Most helpful.

DS1 (2yrs) has been a late talker, possibly due to learning german and english at same time. We signed with him since he was about 4m and the signs have been useful in supporting his speech.

He signed and spoke together - first word was 'more' and then 'please' he now signs to our 5m old DS2

That is lovely, that he signs with his baby brother.

Our DC were late speakers too, brought up German/English. They don't shut up now, in either language.

thanks MmeLindt - I think he'll catch up in time but its nice to hear a positive story!

i did babysigning with my eldest ds, i had a book on it.

he learned to talk very early anyway but continued with the signing as well for a while until all the signs were replaced by words.

he also signed a bit with his younger siblings, i certainly think it helped reduce the usual tantrums as he could express himself before he could talk properly.

he is ten now and has developed pretty normally!

incidentally my boys have been taught sign language at school and i think it helped that they did baby signing as some of it was similar and they already understood the concept of 'signing' as a form of communication