Hand gestures/baby signing

I heard about this research on the radio, and it prompted me to blog about baby signing and hand gestures that Imogen's starting to use.

We got this book a few weeks ago. Imogen had started to know what she did and didn't want but was getting frustrated - as were we - that she couldn't tell us. A few friends have been to baby-signing classes, but there are just not enough days in the week for that, so we decided to just go for it without attending classes. The book is really good, explaining about the research and background behind the idea, and then going on to show you plenty of signs to get started, and how to make learning the signs fun.

We do now use plenty of signs in every day life - drink, nappy, change, finished, more, get dressed etc - as well as some more when were playing - different animals, train, book etc. We've also learned signs to go with different songs and nursery rhymes, although Dave can't quite do them "at speed" yet!

And it's already starting to show signs of success with Imogen. It's not totally clear yet, and not always appropriate either, but she's trying to use some signs such as "finished" and "change". She also does a fair amount of pointing which gets the message across too!

But the biggest - and most reliable - signing so far is from church. At Sunshine Hour - the local toddler service - we always do singing and the favourite among many of the kids is "The Ladybird Song", that involves some actions. And just in the last few days she's started doing the action for "ladybird" and "tree so tall". Sometimes, she'll look at you and do the ladybird action, then give a big grin when you start singing the song. We'll try and capture it on video, because it is so cute!

Our primary reason for starting the signing was to reduce frustration and encourage communication for us all, but if it helps to develop her vocabulary as well, then that's a bonus.