"We love this class. My daughter turns one this week and we've been coming since she was 2 months old. Lucille loves the songs and she is now signing--eat, drink, more. It's so exciting to see her communicate!"

--Carla Eskew

 

Signing Benefits

Learning to sign benefits both you and your baby. Make sure and read the many benefits shown on the right hand side of this page.

For more information regarding the research of signing and your child, please take a look at this paper.

 

Check out this story of a young baby who reads...Mom attributes it to Signing Time

 

Will signing delay speech?

No. Research has found the opposite to be true. Babies who sign typically speak earlier and have a larger vocabulary than non-signing peers.

My baby is starting to talk. Why should I sign?

Signing helps tots to clarify their speech, reducing frustration in both child and parent, and provides all benefits listed at right! Furthermore, signing in verbal children increases their English vocabulary and improves reading.

Safety

One pre-verbal baby kept signing “thirsty” no matter how much she drank. Testing showed that she was diabetic, which they would not have known until she was very sick had it not been for signing!

25 years of scientific research shows that hearing babies who sign typically have the following benefits:

• Earlier communication: babies can produce signs as early as 6 months old--long before their ability to speak develops.
• Fewer Temper-tantrums
• Less Frustration
• Improved confidence and self-esteem
• Better adjusted
• Average between 8 and 13 point Higher IQ
• Tend to speak and read early
• Supports Spelling
• It can have amazing results for children with speech or communication challenges, as well as other special needs
• Helps children link symbols (signs) with concepts (meaning) and the spoken word
• Provides another mode of learning (tactile and kinesthetic)
• Increased bonding (signing is face-to-face communication)
• Clarifies speech (does "Ba" mean baby? bottle? bug? banana?)
• Exposure to a second language: ASL
• Easy bridge to learn other spoken languages
• Feels like play

Other benefits:

• Being able to communicate with your child when verbal communication is difficult or frowned on (either quiet places or noisy places...or from a distance on the playground)
• Easier and earlier diagnosis of health problems. One pre-verbal baby kept signing “thirsty” no matter how much she drank.  Testing showed that she was diabetic, which they wouldn’t have known until she was very sick had it not been for signing!
• Child can express him/herself when too shy or embarrassed to speak
• Opportunity to befriend children who use sign to communicate
• Provides and alternative means of communication when speech may be difficult, for example, after a tonsillectomy, laryngitis, etc.

Doesn't your baby deserve all of these benefits. Unleash your Baby’s Potential with Play and Sign Classes for Babies and Toddlers up to age 3.