Curious about Sign Language, click here to learn more.

Here are just a few examples of first signs for young children. Watch us sign!

MINE
DADDY
BRUSH TEETH
EAT
I LOVE YOU
HELP
WANT
SICK
HAT
STAY

Curious About Sign Language?

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about sign language.

FACTS about sign language with young children (Baby, Toddler and Preschoolers)

When should I start baby signs in my home?
Will teaching my baby sign language prevent my child from speaking?
Is Baby Sign Language and American Sign Language the same?
Who should learn baby sign language?
When should my baby start to sign back to me?
In our home we are bi-lingual. Will introducing a third language, signs, confuse our baby?
When should we stop using sign language?
This may seem silly… but, may I teach my dog sign language too?

FACTS about sign language in schools and with children who have special needs:

My child has special needs- will sign language help him to speak?
I have read that sign language can help with classroom management. How is that true?
I have a student who is deaf in my classroom. There is an interpreter. Should we learn to sign anyway?
My child has Autism- HELP!
What is Functional or Adaptive Sign Language?

When should I start baby signs in my home?

Ideally, baby signing could begin when the child is a newborn. However, many professionals advise actively signing to your baby beginning at six months. Baby signing does not mean that you sign every word you say. You need only sign key words- verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. For example, if you want your child to attend to an airplane in the sky you can sign- LOOK AIRPLANE (then point to the sky.)

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Will teaching my baby sign language prevent my child from speaking?

No! In fact research has proven that teaching young babies and toddlers sign language skills helps to promote all language skills (spoken and signed!) Children have a great propensity for being multi-lingual. There are many good web sites that explain the various research conducted on babies and sign language. Feel free to visit the link section of our web site to direct you to more information.

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Is Baby Sign Language and American Sign Language the same?

No again! There exists an important difference between American Sign Language and baby sign language. American Sign Language ( ASL) is a language that has its’ own vocabulary, grammatical system and cultural/historical background. ASL is sometimes used in conjunction with voice which is a total communication method. ASL also involves the usage of numbers, idioms, and a manual alphabet to spell words or use abbreviations, etc. ASL is a language in its’ own right. ASL is used in the United States and parts of Canada. Other countries, such as England or Mexico, use their own sign language system that is different in many ways to ASL.

Baby sign language is used to augment speech development in hearing children. If a baby is born deaf to hearing or deaf parents then this professional would recommend highly the use of ASL in the family and not just baby signing.

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Who should learn baby sign language?

Anyone who has a regular contact with your child should learn baby signs. If there are two parents in the home then both parents should learn. If the child spends a considerable amount of time with a caregiver or grandparent then it would be recommended for them to learn as well. Our DVD is available to purchase separately for people interested in sharing baby sign with their caregivers. We also are able to teach families and caregivers at separate times.

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When should my baby start to sign back to me?

Development of sign language often occurs prior to the first spoken word. If sign language has been used on a daily basis since 6-8 months then you may see your baby sign at about 10 months( sometimes earlier). Keep in mind that all children reach developmental milestones at their own pace, thus, first signs ( like first words and first steps) will vary from child to child.

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In our home we are bi-lingual. Will introducing a third language, signs, confuse our baby?

No! We have had several families who spoke two languages in their home and were very successful with using baby signs as well. Again, children have a great capacity to learn languages!

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When should we stop using sign language?

The answer to this question varies from family to family. In the Sattler household signing is still used to communicate across a crowded room without shouting! Parents often use sign language as a way to communicate to their children in situations when speaking is not appropriate- such as during a school concert or in a church.

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This may seem silly… but, may I teach my dog sign language too?

Yes! Dogs respond to hand commands and teaching them a few signs is easy and fun. We recommend that you start with SIT, STAY and WAIT! However, don’t expect your dogs to sign back to you! ( If they do, please send us the video or photo!!)

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My child has special needs- will sign language help him to speak?

Numerous studies have show that sign language can help a child with learning challenges to communicate while minimizing some of the frustration they may experience speaking. While we do not advocate replacing speech with sign, we do see the value of helping to boost verbal communication with sign language. Also, for children who are unable to speak due to medical reasons or are non or very low verbal- sign language can be used effectively as a primary mode for communication.

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I have read that sign language can help with classroom management. How is that true?

Yes, sign language can help with classroom management in a variety of ways. Students can learn signs for BATHROOM or WATER instead of the constant raising of hands which may interrupt instruction. Also, signs can be used as a signal for HELP or ILL when a student needs assistance. In addition, learning can be promoted by using sign language to help with memorization, spelling and math problems. The sky is the limit when sign language is introduced in the classroom. For some great signs to begin with go to abcteach.com and see the series of signs we supplied to them for their website. (NOTE: Some are free and some are for members only)

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I have a student who is deaf in my classroom. There is an interpreter. Should we learn to sign anyway?

Absolutely! SIGNING FAMILIES believes that all people should learn the basics of sign language! For starters, ASL is the fourth most popular language in the United States! Think how much more comfortable and welcomed any deaf child would be if teachers and students learned to use ASL! Friendships can be formed and learning only can be enhanced!

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My child has Autism- HELP!

There are many good reasons why sign language can help to promote communication with your son or augment another system he may be using like PECS or speech. Here is one article I wrote on the subject to help you get started from AUTISM NEWS.

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What is Functional or Adaptive Sign Language?

When a child has learning challenges such as cognitive disabilities, cerebral palsy or another condition which impacts the ability to sign in a typical fashion, we use adaptive or functional sign language. This means that we sign to the child or adult correctly but accept whatever consistent rendition of the sign is given back. Here is an example of a young boy with Down Syndrome signing HELP adaptively and another child the approximate same age who is signing it typically.

Adaptive	Functional

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