FAQ
Babies who Sign …
- Are Less Frustrated
- Speak Earlier (Contrary to what many think)
- Have Higher IQ’s (10-12 points higher)
- Develop Larger Vocabularies
- At age 2, signers have about 50 more spoken words than non-signers
- At age 3, signers speak and understand at a 4 year old level
- Demonstrate a Greater Interest in Books
- Have Better Imaginations
- Enhanced Self-Esteem
- Experience a Closer Bond with their Parents and Siblings
Parents who Sign with their Babies…
- Give their babies a head start on language development
- Experience decreased frustration
- Enjoy an earlier interactive experience with their baby
- Look forward to the “Not-So-Terrible” Two’s
- Hear less crying in the house
- Have more fun with their babies
From a comparison study by Susan Goodwyn, PhD and Linda Acredolo, PhD of the University of California at Davis. Funded by the National Institute of Health and Human Development, the study compared signers and non-signers at age 2, 3 and age 8.
Typically, the best time to get started is between the ages of 6-9 months. It is at this time that babies start to babble and test out their voices as well as start to imitate gestures and manipulate objects with their hands. It is also at this age that babies can be taught to associate between making a sign and obtaining a desired result. You can start earlier (which helps you get in the habit of signing more often and gets your baby an earlier familiarity to your hand gestures), just expect that it will take your baby longer to start signing back to you. If your baby is older, it is never too late to start! The older the baby, the quicker they will catch on and learn new signs.
Absolutely not! Contrary to what many people think, it has been proven conclusively that babies who sign speak earlier than those who do not sign. Linda Acredolo, PHD received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study verbal language development in signing babies versus non-signing babies. Critics of baby sign language were surprised by the results because baby signers had more advanced verbal skills than their non-signing peers. Numerous other studies have been conducted through the years, always with the same result: Infants who learn to sign develop their communication skills at an advanced rate.
Sign language is highly recommended as a way to bridge the communication gap for children with special needs. Speech pathologists recommend teaching hearing non verbal children who are affected by down syndrome, autism, childhood apraxia, cerebral palsy, trauma, and brain and speech disorders. A huge number of parents now rely on sign language as a mode of communication particularly with their children who suffer with speech delays, limited language capabilities or short attention spans. Often these children’s expressive language is slower to develop than their receptive language. For example, one of the most frustrating aspects of autism is the communication breakdown. Often, children with autism struggle with the complexity of spoken language. Sign language provides numerous social, emotional, cognitive and communicative benefits for children with autism.
It is believed that through acquiring sign language early on, the child is able to build up cognitive structures and brain function, which are the building blocks for later learning.
Once special needs children are into their toddler and preschool years, they often use their signs for emphasis, or to clarify when their spoken words are not fully understood.
While several books and how-to videos have been created on the subject, parents are generally left to their own devices to figure it all out. Many parents get frustrated and give up on teaching their babies sign language after trying to go at it alone. Many of the most helpful sign language words are abstract words (ie: help, hurt, more), meaning you can’t point to an object and teach the sign for it. The Baby Signing 101 Workshop shows the participants how to teach those particular signs to their children. This is something that you won’t find in a book or video.
Attendees of the workshop will also learn about the benefits of communicating with pre-verbal babies through sign language and the research that supports it as well as all of the tips and tricks to ensure that they are successful based on the science of how a baby’s brain is formed.Check the Baby Signing 101 Workshop tab for a full description of the class.
Our class offerings cater to the developmental stages of your child rather than strict age brackets. If you’re deciding between our toddler and preschool classes for your 2-year-old, consider their language proficiency as the determining factor. Typically, as children transition to using verbal language more fluently, they may benefit more from the preschool class. The only exception to this rule is for children closer in age to 3 years and above. Placing an older child in a class with younger ones may not be developmentally optimal for them, as their needs and abilities differ.
In the toddler class (ages 9 months+), we prioritize heavy sign language usage with ample repetition. Each week, we introduce a variety of signs aligned with essential daily activities through structured lesson plans.
Conversely, the preschool class (ages 2-5) offers a lively, thematic approach to learning. While still incorporating sign language, the focus extends to diverse topics such as animals, colors, alphabet, and movement activities. Here, the emphasis is on fostering a love for learning new concepts, although communication remains integral.
In the toddler class, adults are actively involved in learning and reinforcing signs through repetition. In contrast, the preschool class encourages direct engagement with the children, prompting them to participate in signing activities as part of the fun learning experience.
Children in the preschool class, typically up to age 5, exhibit greater energy levels and curiosity. While maintaining a supportive environment, this class serves as a bridge between playful exploration and the structured dynamics of a classroom setting.
Once confirmed in any class, an administrative fee of $25 will be deducted for withdrawals. In addition, no tuition refunds are given after the first class of a Sign, Sing & Play session.