Teresa R Simpson - The Everything Baby Sign Language Book: Get an early start communicating with your baby!

THE
EVERYTHING
Baby Sign
Language Book

Dear Reader,

The first time I witnessed baby sign language in action, my son was just two months old, and crying, cooing, and smiling were the only ways in which he could communicate. So when I watched another mother speak with her infant son in a way that I couldnt, I was intrigued. I immediately went out and did research on baby sign language. I discovered its benefits, and I learned how to demonstrate it to a baby. Four months later, my son signed MILK to me for the first time. I was hooked. Since then, we have learned dozens of new signs together.

There is something magical about signing with a baby. It gives you a glimpse into the workings of his little mind and provides extra insight into his personality. It is nothing short of amazing. As you embark upon your own signing journey, it is my sincere hope that you, too, will delight in communicating with your baby in this special way.

Sincerely,

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THE
EVERYTHING
BABY SIGN
LANGUAGE
BOOK
with DVD

Get an early start communicating with your baby!

Teresa R. Simpson

Technical Review by Terrell Clark, Ph.D.

Avon, Massachusetts

Copyright 2008 Simon and Schuster. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

An Everything Series Book.
Everything and everything.com are registered trademarks of F+W Publications, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-59869-564-9
ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-564-9
eISBN: 978-1-44052-446-2

Printed in the United States of America.

J I H G F E D C B A

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available from the publisher.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of
the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.

For the men in my life, Michael and James, with all my love.

Contents

Top Ten Reasons to Sign with Your Baby

Your baby is trying to tell you something!

You will learn to sign right along with your baby.

Signing is a fun activity for the whole family.

Your baby will experience less frustration as she gets her needs met.

Less frustration for your baby means less frustration for you!

Your baby will be able to communicate with other signing babies.

Signing promotes interaction between you and your baby.

Babies who sign are better able to express themselves appropriately.

Signing provides the basis for a second language as your child gets older.

Babies who sign often score higher on IQ tests later in life than their nonsigning peers.

Introduction

USING SIGN LANGUAGE to communicate with babiesit seems like everybodys doing it. Okay, maybe not everybody, but certainly many people are doing it, and their numbers seem to increase with each passing year. A few years ago, you might have encountered an occasional hearing mom on the playground signing with her hearing baby. Such a mom (or dad) typically would have been thought of as an overachiever trying to raise a super-baby. Today, however, parents by the thousands are discovering the immense benefits of signing with their babies, and they are learning that a signing baby is not the same as a super-baby. It is no longer uncommon to see young children signing with their parents, their siblings, and even with their caregivers in daycare settings. In fact, because of the increased prevalence of baby sign, babies are now signing with each other.

So what prompted this sudden popularity of baby sign language? Is it a trendy fad that will lose steam over the next few years? Signing parents will assure you that this is not the case. Instead, it is a major advancement in the field of baby communication. Baby sign language opens up a whole new world of communication between a baby and the adults around her. It allows parents to gain early insight into the way her mind works, and it bridges the communication gap that exists during her preverbal months. Something this powerful is unlikely to go away. Instead, it seems likely that more and more parents will get onboard the baby-signing train and that it will eventually become a widespread and common practice.

Signing is a beautiful way to communicate with your child. It is fun and educational, and it is an excellent way to spend quality time together. In addition to the communication advantages it provides, signing can also contribute to a childs academic prowess, as well as to her self-esteem. Best of all, it is an activity in which the whole family can participate.