Nancy Cadjan - Baby Signing Essentials: Easy Sign Language for Every Age and Stage

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Copyright 2015 by Nancy Cadjan

Cover and internal design 2015 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Cover design by Jennifer K. Beal Davis

Cover image Jennifer K. Beal Davis

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systemsexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviewswithout permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in 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 service. 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

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cadjan, Nancy.

Baby signing essentials : easy sign language for every age and stage / Nancy Cadjan.

pages cm

Includes index.

(trade paper : alk. paper) 1. Nonverbal communication in infants. 2. Sign language acquisition. 3. Language acquisitionParent participation. 4. Interpersonal communication in infants. I. Title.

BF720.C65C334 2015

419.1dc23

2014048802

CONTENTS

Learn what baby signing is, how it can help your baby, and when to start.

Learn the steps to signing with your baby, including tips for creating a basis for lifelong communication.

Your baby is now ready to sign back! Learn how to use your babys communication clues to increase your ability to understand her.

Your baby is primed for communication and is motivated by all the new things he is learning. These easy strategies will develop these abilities to help you both communicate better.

Your baby is transitioning from signing to talking, but signing can still benefit your baby even after she can speak, including increasing her vocabulary.

If your toddler is not speaking yet, signing will keep the communication going until he is ready. If your toddler is speaking, you can use his signing abilities to facilitate future learning.

PREFACE

PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS STRUGGLED TO communicate with their babies in the early months and years. Usually, parents do all the talking and babies most of the listening, with some interaction through grunts, looks, sounds, and gestures that parents try to interpret. This mostly one-way communication was better than nothing, but it still caused a lot of frustration and confusion for both.

The secrets of how to create two-way conversations with your baby at an earlier age are easily accessible! By using basic signs with your babyalso called baby sign languageyou can begin the conversation much earlier. This book will teach you exactly how to do that by using your childs natural learning tendencies to create two-way conversations.

BabySigningEssentials is designed as a great resource for age-specific guidance on what to do at each age so that you can get started signing with your baby today. Since there is a great difference between a four-month-old and a twelve-month-old, each chapter provides a brief overview of what is going on developmentally with your baby during a specific age and then teaches you the most important signs at that age. Baby sign language is not rocket science, but knowing a few good tricks and tips makes it easier. Remember, keep things simple and follow the easy-to-accomplish steps for the greatest success.

This book can be approached in two ways. Its designed chronologically so that you can read it from cover to cover to get a complete idea of your childs progression and what works best at each age to facilitate successful communication. Or, if you are a busy mom or dad who needs a quick and easy overview of the basics, you can flip to the chapter that corresponds to your babys age and dive in.

Beginning with , each chapter also includes the following helpful resources:

So Whats Happening Now?: This section describes your babys development, so you know exactly what to expect as your baby grows.

All You Need: This section right before the signs in each chapter gives you a quick list of the most important signing instructions and ideas to do with your baby at each age.

Essential Signs: At the end of each chapter is a list of ten or fifteen essential signs for each age so you know which ones to start with. You can always learn more of the signs included in each chapter, but these are the ones that have proven most useful. If you are looking for a specific sign, there is an alphabetical listing of all signs on .

Note: When you see words that are bolded and in capital letters (APPLE or MORE), these are the words that you will sign with your baby.

Note on gender: As you read through the book, you may notice it alternates between gender references in each section. This is to give babies of both genders equal focus and avoid unnecessary or confusing repetition. This book is for all babies and their parents.

Parenting is an amazing experience, and signing with your child can really enhance the journey for both of you. This book will help you understand ways to gain more joy and insight into each other, and I hope it will help you build a strong foundation of great communication and love that will last you the rest of your lives.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

BEING A MOTHER IS A great journey that teaches you a lot. Without my two children, I never would have embarked on the baby sign language journey. The moms who shared their stories to enrich this book feel the same way. Thank you to them for sharing their experiences. Thanks to Dr. Joseph Garcia and his generous and loving soul. Without his vision for using American Sign Language (ASL) with babies, my relationship with my children would be less fulfilling. Thank you to Tricia Taylor for inspiring me to take my homemade flash cards and turn them into a product, lessons, classes, books, and more. Thank you to Shelly Parcell and Henry, who renewed my love for signing with babies through our friendship and watching Henry communicate his amazing thoughts.