Several independent researchers in the field of language development have found that signing with your little one typically improves language development rather than hinders it. One study which followed families for eight years found that many of the children who signed as infants had higher IQ's, better reading and spelling skills, more interest in books and a more sophisticated understanding of language. In addition, many of my former clients have reported that their children began speaking earlier than their peers and expressed more detailed thoughts sooner and are now very articulate toddlers!

“Sign does not hinder language development in any way; rather, it fosters it.  It picks up on the natural visual acuity young children possess and uses it to the child’s advantage.”

Dancing with Words by Dr. Marilyn Daniels, Pg. 170

 “Remember that babies understand much more than they are able to say.  Speaking is difficult.  It requires the development of dozens of muscles in the face, mouth, and tongue, and coordination of these muscles with the flow of the breath over the vocal folds in the larynx.  From a purely developmental point of view, babies achieve the ability to construct language with their hands at least six to twelve months earlier than they do with their vocal apparatus.”

Dancing with Words by Dr. Marilyn Daniels, pg. 174

It's never too early to start signing with your baby. After all, you likely started talking with your little one the first time you held her. It's never too early to begin learning about the concept of signing with your baby, and the introduction of sign language at a very early age certainly won't harm your infant. However, sign language will begin to have more relevancy to your little one at about five to eight months of age. Most research has shown that at approximately this age babies begin to have the ability to remember a sign, the motor skills to produce the sign, and the cognitive ability to understand the sign. Starting at about five months of age gives family members some time to become comfortable signing with their little one and helps to be sure that the use of sign language is consistently a part of their daily routine, before the baby is able to sign back. Most babies can sign back at about seven to eight months of age, but I have had babies sign back as early as five and months of age! I encourage expectant parents, parents of newborns, and parents with very young toddlers to participate in my classes. It's never too early to begin learning about the concept of signing with your baby and it's never too late to start signing! If your child is older than approximately 18 months and you are interested in my classes, please contact me to see if my class would be an appropriate match for your needs. Signing With Your Baby classes are also an excellent resource for childcare providers and pediatric personnel, too.

Is it ever too late to begin signing with my baby?

No, it is never too late to begin learning a new language. Actually, studies have shown that the earlier we begin learning a second language, the more successful we will be in the learning process. I've had parents with toddlers as old as two contact me about my classes because their little ones were experiencing speech delays. Sign language can serve as a helpful means of communication in situations such as these. My classes are designed for parents with babies as young as six months old all the way to children five years of age. Expectant parents and parents with newborns are always welcome, too.

As with crawling, speaking, walking, and all other skills, babies develop at their own pace. Some babies begin signing their first sign within a few weeks of its introduction. Others recognize and respond to sign language but don't produce their first sign for several weeks, a month, or occasionally even longer. Signing parents need to be patient and move at their own child's individual pace. The consistency of the use of signs on a daily basis with all family members and caregivers is directly related to the success of signing babies. Most of my parents report that once their little ones did begin signing they were like little sponges and learned most of their new signs very quickly!

Why does my toddler sometimes stop speaking for part of a day and use only signs?

How does signing affect my child's overall development? 

"A number of recent studies have found that sensitive responsiveness or synchronized interactions are related to more advanced language development." 

Pathways to Competence by Dr. Sarah Landy, pg. 279 

The life-blood of the parent/child relationship is effective mutual communication. Signing allows families to build that important connection very early on. Signing also contributes to the early building of vocabulary and comprehension which are so vital to success in all areas of life.