Baby Signs (Baby Signs - Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn)

Member Name: pebbles

Product:	Baby Signs - Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn
Date:	08/12/00 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: improves the childs communication

Disadvantages: none

I have discovered a book called 'Baby Signs' by Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn. Both are Americans who have studied Child Development.It's an interesting book about how to communicate with your child before they learn to speak. It's great fun and an eye opener.

I was initially interested as my son (when he was little)was taken care of by a lady who was deaf. He picked up the sign language very quickly and used to talk to her quite confidently.

This book looks at using sign language with your child to improve their communincation skills, it's thought to cut down on the tantrums. It's based on using signs that the parents are comfortable with and not necessarily the traditional deaf sign language.

We use our hands more often than we think we do, how many times have we played games with our children using our hands to emphasis items? Fingers on the head for a bunny, wriggling finger for a worm, hands on ears for noisy, rubbing of teeth for brushing teeth. The list is endless yet we aren't aware that we do it.

I learnt a lot from my son when he was little but when he started to talk clearly it stopped. However I'm doing it again with my daughter, she watches and smiles and is starting to recognise the signs that I use. I introduce a new one every day and repeat the ones that I have already started using. Children are far brighter than we give them credit for and if it helps them to speak to us then surely it's worth the effort and besides it's great fun learning.

I bought the book from the internet as I haven't seen it in the shops as yet but if you've got small children or work with them then I highly recommmend it.

My little one is 16 months now and using sign language a lot. It it true that it has reduced the number of tantrums. Many fits of shouting are because the child is desperatly trying to tell you what it wants, but of course it can't. She can now ask f
or things such as a drink,something to eat or a toy.All the members of the household use it with her, and it's quite amusing.

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