Copyright 2018 by Lane Rebelo
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Illustrations Boris Stoilov, 2018
Photography Oksana Kuzmina/Shutterstock.com, ; ulimi/iStock.com; 13goat/iStock.com; SergeiKorolko/iStock.com.
ISBN: Print 978-1-64152-077-5 | eBook 978-1-64152-078-2
W ELCOME TO Baby Sign Language Made Easy ! You hold in your hands the book I wish someone had handed to me when I decided to try signing with my first baby.
When I became a mom back in 2006, I was curious about baby signing and borrowed a book from the library to learn more about it. The book gave me a lot of information about the history and theory of using basic sign language with hearing babies, as well as instructions for a lot of signs, but it didnt tell me how to introduce signs to my baby. It also didnt offer much in the way of tips or strategies for success.
Despite the shortcomings of that book, I did go on to have success signing with my first daughter, Clara. I began with hopes that shed learn a few signs to let me know when she was hungry or if she wanted something, but the experience turned out to be much more than I ever imagined. Signing opened a window into her mind and allowed me to understand what she was thinking through the signs she used. I was blown away by the ability to see the world through her eyes, and to this day I feel that signing deeply and forever shaped our connection because we were able to communicate so early on. Thats not to say we didnt hit a few stumbling blocks along the way. In fact, for days, I didnt notice her first sign because it didnt look like what I expected, and I didnt know what to look for! To make sure this doesnt happen to you, Ive included tips on what babys early signs may look like so you know what to look out for.
I quickly got hooked on signing and learned all I could about it, training with experts and researchers in the field and taking American Sign Language (ASL) classes at a local school for the Deaf. In 2009, I created Tiny Signs, and since then Ive been teaching classes and workshops to parents, educators, and early childhood professionals. Ive had the privilege of working with so many wonderful families over the years, and I continue to learn from them every day as they bring me new and unique questions. I never grow tired of hearing the exciting news that a little one has made her first sign or of helping my students troubleshoot challenges. Signing is such a powerful tool, and its impact on families continues to amaze me, even after all these years.
When my second daughter, Annie, was born, it was a given that Id sign with her, as well. What I didnt anticipate was how all the skills I had acquired from teaching would impact my experience with baby number two. She started signing back to me on the very day we started! By her first birthday, she knew nearly 100 signs and was also combining signs into two-word sentences (for example, MORE CRACKERS ).
I wrote this book to share the signs, tips, and tricks that have helped me and so many other families find success with baby sign language. That said, your baby doesnt need to learn 101 signs to make a huge impact on both of your lives. Even just a few key signs can transform your early interactions. Ive included illustrated instructions for 101 signs, so you can pick and choose based on your babys age, ability, and interests.
My wish for you is that youll find this book to be a quick and simple guide that shows you just how fun and easy it is to integrate sign language into your everyday routine with your baby. I want you to discover the wonder of early communication and see for yourself just how smart your little one is!
This book is geared toward new parents, expectant parents, grandparents, caregivers, nannies, educators, and child care workers. Its meant for just about anyone who spends time with infants and toddlers and wants to learn how to communicate with them before speech develops.
As a busy (and usually sleep-deprived) mom myself, I know you dont have the time or desire to read hundreds of pages about the history of baby sign language, a summary of all the research ever done on the topic, or 1,001 activities you can do with your baby. I get it. This book gives you the exact information you need to get started, plus tips and realistic strategies for success, delivered in an easy-to-understand format.
