Baby Sign Language: What Happens in Class
With baby sign language you learn to understand your child without words. How exactly do baby signs work? Where can you attend such a course? And what does it mean for the development of your baby? Get an overview of baby sign language here.
Where does baby sign language come from?
The idea of baby sign language has been explored in the United States and England since the 1980s. Experts found that hearing babies could communicate with a deaf parent much earlier than children who grew up “normally”. As a result, the first concepts for baby sign language courses in the USA and various European countries emerged.
What happens at the baby sign language course?
Through children’s songs and games, you and your baby will learn the basic vocabulary for everyday life together with your baby in the baby sign language course. You connect words with the corresponding characters and various actions. In this way, your child will learn the meaning of the different hand movements over time.
Your baby doesn’t have to be a genius to be successful in a baby signing class. Some children are quick to learn the signs, others take a little longer. After all, that’s how it is with speaking. Baby sign language makes the first few months with your baby more interactive and relaxed. Your child will enjoy the intensive attention and you will be amazed at how much you get back from this little person when you can understand them.
However, there are also critics who do not attach any value to baby sign language. In her opinion, sign language in no way promotes a baby’s language development. Some researchers even go so far as to suggest that learning baby sign language delays a child’s language development. There is no agreement here. The various assessments are based on different research approaches and results. So far, there is no clear trend in the statements made by the researchers.
Why Take a Baby Sign Language Course?
A baby sign language course opens up a wide range of possibilities for you and your baby.
Benefits for your baby:
- From the age of six to nine months, your baby can tell you that he is hungry, in pain, tired or likes music.
- Your baby can “talk” to you about various things that are on his mind. This makes them feel understood and much happier.
- Your baby understands better what mom and dad are telling him.
- Your child can playfully improve their motor skills and self-awareness by imitating the signs.
- Your baby develops an intensive bond with his parents and siblings earlier.
Benefits for parents:
- Everyday life with your baby becomes easier because you can respond better to your child’s needs. You will know more quickly what your child wants and what is going on.
- You can respond to the needs of your child in a more targeted manner because they can communicate more specifically. For example, it can tell you if it is tired, hungry or thirsty.
- The better understanding of your baby’s needs reduces frustration on both sides, as well as the uncertainty and guesswork in the early days with baby.
You can read more about how baby sign language works in our article “ How Dwarf Language Works ”.
When and where to take a baby sign language course?
- Suitable for: Baby sign language courses are suitable for children up to the age of two. If your child is able to use their hands in a targeted manner, they can form baby signs and thus communicate. The ideal age is between six and nine months.
- Time: A course hour usually lasts about 60 minutes. A baby sign language course usually consists of twelve course hours.
- Provider: Baby sign language courses are offered by “Baby hand signs” or “Dwarf language”, for example. The courses usually take place in different facilities and are conducted by trained baby language course instructors.
- Cost: A twelve-hour course costs about 90 euros for babies. Workshops for parents, which last three hours, cost around 35 euros.