How early can you start teaching your child sign language?

Question

I've seen it work for many children, and I was wondering what age to start teaching a baby sign language. Thanks all!

Answer 1

Four months is an appropriate age. Remember that it will take about a month of consistent showing the child several words, such as "more", "finished", and/or "milk" before they start mimicking. However, when the child learns words in sigh, they typically say them faster because those words are multisensory. JUst like how babies tend to say "bye bye" so early, because there is a hand motion to go with it. Good luck!

Answer 2

Well, if sign language were your first language you would start signing to the child right away, since people who speak start talking to their children as soon as they are born. I would say whenever you want to start signing would be great, as long as you realize that the child won't sign back until they have the coordination. Best of luck!! What a wonderful idea! I think everyone should be learning sign language these days, not spanish!!

Answer 3

I started teaching my girls sign language soon after they came home from the hospital. They learn by seeing and hearing just as they learn how to talk. If they always see it, then it will just be a part of them. My girls started signing themselves at the age of 10 months (cookie and done were their favorite words). Now my 2 year old is trying so hard to get her little fingers to sign "I love you"- it is really cute. In church, my 4 year old sits there signing "I love you" to her grandma. Sign language is a great thing for them because they know what they want, but can't get it out in words. Good job teaching it to your babies.

Answer 4

We started with our son around 4-6 months with "milk" and "no" but he didn't really pick it up until around 9 months. He's 10 1/2 months now and he knows: milk, no, eat, more, all done, and change. It's wonderful to be able to communicate at a young age, I've noticed less tantrums in my son and others who can express themselves this way. Have fun with it and make sure anyone who babysits for you understands some signs too. My uncle watched our son once and he couldn't figure out why my son wanted the dogs so bad. Turns out he wanted the dogs to give him some "milk".

Answer 5

Before my niece started to talk she was taught sign language. I think she was a little over a yr, but she had someone teaching her everyday. Children pick up things so much quicker then adults. Once they learn how to talk you can even teach them a new language and they will pick it up. Its amazing really, but Id say start as soon as possible and they will learn it faster and easier.

Answer 6

I've known some to start teaching it to a 3 month old child.

My son was being taught it at 2 years old by a speech therapist and I told her to stop. There was no point in teaching him it if I was the only one who could understand it. I told her to focus more on teaching him English instead.

Answer 7

I know a baby who knew sign language at six months. Baby Einstein makes a video called "baby wordsmith words around the house" and "Words around your neighborhood" These are sign language video's and my 3 year old learned sign from them.

Answer 8

you can start when there are about 4 months using sign and word about 8 to 9 months there start to use it

Answer 9

I would imagine that, like most languages, the sooner the better.

Children learn language in a different way to adults.

Answer 10

As soon as possible, but dont expect them to start signing back until 8 months.