"Baby Sign is a system of gestures and simple signs that allows your child to improve their communication skills prior to developing spoken words. Any child who has limited spoken language or functional communication skills can benefit from the introduction of baby sign. This includes children with speech delays as well as most typically developing children under the age of 2."
- Laura Brown, MA, CCC-SLP, Mommy & Me Milestones
We were so excited to have our first guest to our live chats over on the @ei_ei_oh_ Instagram page. Laura Brown is a pediatric Speech- Language Pathologist and mom in Georgia who runs Mommy & Me Milestones, a website and Instagram page which has great ideas for supporting language development, as well for parent education.
We invited her to our live chat to talk about one of her passions "Baby Sign Language," a topic which is quite relevant to the Early Intervention community, and which we're also very interested in. Laura has also just released a digital book called The Practical Baby Sign Handbook, which is a great resource for parents who want to introduce Baby Sign with their little ones. Grab a copy for yourself and use the code "EIEIO" at checkout on her website to get 20% off her book! This offer will expire on August 12, 2019.
If you missed the live portion of our discussion, don't worry. We've shared all of the questions and answers from our chat below. Feel free to let us know if and how you use baby sign with your little ones.
EIOH: How can sign language be useful in communication development?
Laura: Sign language gives children who are pre-verbal access to a system of communication. It can decrease frustration and negative behaviors due to decreased communication skills. It can also help to build preverbal skills including social reciprocity, receptive language, communicative intent, and imitation.  EIOH: What factors should influence your decision to start using sign? Laura: If you want to improve the communication skills of a child who is pre-verbal.  For speech therapists.... AAC should be the first step in therapy for any child who is pre-verbal, minimally verbal, or nonverbal. Sign is a great AAC option for young children who are pre-verbal because it gives them a way to communicate and also develops pre-verbal skills to increase readiness for talking. You can start introducing signs with children at age 6 months, but they may not be able to imitate until 9-12 months or later. For children with developmental delays, sign should be considered along with other AAC options such as picture exchange and a high tech device (based on the individual needs of the child). EIOH: What is a good age to start to introduce sign? Laura: Age 6 months, but it's never too late. Any child who has limited spoken language or functional communication skills can benefit from the introduction of signs.  This includes children with developmental delays as well as many typically developing children under the age of 2.  EIOH: Will my little one still want to talk if I introduce sign? Laura: Yes! Research shows that enhanced gestural input and co-speech gestures (including baby sign) do not inhibit the development of spoken language and can actually help to facilitate the development of spoken language.  EIOH: What's the best way to start teaching sign? Laura: Model the signs in context (use daily routines!), choose functional signs that can be used across a variety of contexts.   Â
EIOH:What are some of the most early common signs to use with little ones?
Laura : Eat, milk, drink/water, more, please, help, all done, stop, go
Thanks again to Laura for sharing her expertise in sign!
Are you using sign with your little one?