Sign language use with babies is a fairly new concept that promotes earlier communication between a child and his or her parents. It allows the child to express their needs leading to less frustration for both the child and caregivers. Although it sounds a difficult task, teaching an infant sign language, it is quite simple. Follow the tips below and you will find it not only easy but quite enjoyable.

Tip #1 - When signing a word to your infant always speak the word simultaneously. This allows for correlation between the spoken word and signed word. The baby will come to understand that they are the same.

Tip #2 - Be consistent. Always do both the signed word and the spoken word together when interacting with your child. The infant will learn by the repetitious use of the two together. This will facilitate the learning process.

Tip #3 - Begin with simple words associated with the child's basic needs, such as eat, sleep, drink, and so forth. These are the things the child needs to be able to communicate with you. As the child ages you can move on to more advanced signs.

Tip #4 - Stick with American Sign Language (ASL) official signs. Do not use your own made up or developed signs. If you stick with ASL, it will be much easier for the child to adapt to signing later on as well as allow them to sign effectively and efficiently with other signers if the language is universal.

Tip #5 - Be patient. It will take a few weeks or months for your child to learn the signs. Even so, it is still a faster means of communication than speaking since children's mental and motor capabilities develop faster than those needed for speech.

These are five basic tips to use when starting to develop sign communication between you and your child. There are many additional resources such as books and videos you can turn to for guidance. Most importantly of all enjoy the time with your baby and have fun.

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