Frequently asked questions

Does Signing with Babies delay their speech development?

Research clearly indicates that babies who Sign tend to have a stronger command of verbal language and also begin speaking at an earlier age than babies who do not sign.

At what age can I start to Sign with my baby?

Any age really. Your baby may be ready before some others, but generally speaking the optimal age is between 6 and 8 months. A baby needs to develop memory, dexterity, and cognition adequate for recognising, retaining and producing signs. It is never too early or too late to start. The earlier you start means you can hit the ground running when their Signing takes off!!

When can I expect my baby to Sign to me?

This depends on several factors: How old your child is, how often you and or your baby’s caregivers use the Signs, and how interested the child is in communicating. Consistency is the key and when you get that magic moment when that first sign comes you’ll be jumping around the kitchen just as Michele and I have done!!

Can we introduce Sign Language in a bi-lingual environment?

Many families use Sign Language as the common denominator for teaching several languages. Initially, as speech begins, your baby may mix various words from different languages together in one sentence. Research indicates that eventually these young children usually become fluent in several languages. It is very unlikely that you will overwhelm your child if you blend the languages within the fibre of your day. Make languages part of everything you do.