Did anyone teach their baby to sign to communicate before they could talk?

Just reading up on it. Every time I think about it, it reminds me of "Meet the Fockers"!

Have you seen 'Something Special' on Cbeebies? That's good. I secretly love it.

But, no I never did this.

I talked a lot to my two when they were babies - literally everything had a running commentary. Moreso with my eldest. She was talking at quite a young age - sooner than all the other kids we knew at her age, and as a result I found it much easier to do other things like toilet training and stuff.

typo edit

[Edited 9/3/10 1:57am]

Lisa10 said:

Have you seen 'Something Special' on Cbeebies? That's good. I secretly love it.

But, no I never did this.

I talked a lot to my two when they were babies - literally everything had a running commentary. Moreso with my eldest. She was talking at quite a young age - sooner than all the other kids we knew at her age, and as a result I found it much easier to do other things like toilet training and stuff.

typo edit

[Edited 9/3/10 1:57am]

No, I have not. I usually have Baby TV on in the background. I secretly love Charlie and the Numbers.

I will check that out though. Selden started talking before the other kids from the NCT class eventhough he was the last to be born.

The words he says are not very helpful in knowing what he wants though.

Lately his faves to say are "quack quack" and "cookie".

Daddy keeps trying to tell him that they are "biscuits"!!!

I read a book before he was born that said to talk to them, tell them everything you are about to do.

I have never talked so much in my whole life. Gets old talking to someone that cannot talk back though.

Shanti0608 said:

Lisa10 said:

Have you seen 'Something Special' on Cbeebies? That's good. I secretly love it.

But, no I never did this.

I talked a lot to my two when they were babies - literally everything had a running commentary. Moreso with my eldest. She was talking at quite a young age - sooner than all the other kids we knew at her age, and as a result I found it much easier to do other things like toilet training and stuff.

typo edit

[Edited 9/3/10 1:57am]

No, I have not. I usually have Baby TV on in the background. I secretly love Charlie and the Numbers.

I will check that out though. Selden started talking before the other kids from the NCT class eventhough he was the last to be born.

The words he says are not very helpful in knowing what he wants though.

Lately his faves to say are "quack quack" and "cookie".

Daddy keeps trying to tell him that they are "biscuits"!!!

I read a book before he was born that said to talk to them, tell them everything you are about to do.

I have never talked so much in my whole life. Gets old talking to someone that cannot talk back though.

I really believe it works - anyway, it sounds like Seldon is doing well from it!

My friends little girl is at the stage where she's trying to repeat words. The older kids were all around her asking to repeat things the other day, it was so funny. All we could hear was 'Imogen, can you say Bottom', 'can you say fart', 'can you say bogies'. Poor Imogen would gladly try to say the words and all the other bigger kids would laugh hysterically at her.

purpledoveuk said:

My friends thought it was really modern of them....seems like a waste of time to me. What next - baby calligraphy?

Lisa10 said:

Shanti0608 said:

No, I have not. I usually have Baby TV on in the background. I secretly love Charlie and the Numbers.

I will check that out though. Selden started talking before the other kids from the NCT class eventhough he was the last to be born.

The words he says are not very helpful in knowing what he wants though.

Lately his faves to say are "quack quack" and "cookie".

Daddy keeps trying to tell him that they are "biscuits"!!!

I read a book before he was born that said to talk to them, tell them everything you are about to do.

I have never talked so much in my whole life. Gets old talking to someone that cannot talk back though.

I really believe it works - anyway, it sounds like Seldon is doing well from it!

My friends little girl is at the stage where she's trying to repeat words. The older kids were all around her asking to repeat things the other day, it was so funny. All we could hear was 'Imogen, can you say Bottom', 'can you say fart', 'can you say bogies'. Poor Imogen would gladly try to say the words and all the other bigger kids would laugh hysterically at her.

Awww bless. I guess I better find different words for "FFS" before he starts repeating me.

Shanti0608 said:

purpledoveuk said:

Shanti0608 said:

Awww bless. I guess I better find different words for "FFS" before he starts repeating me.

Oh trust me, even the most innocent words can be twisted by a 2 year old... Take Guedo from the Pixar Movie Cars...ever had an excited kid shout "Paedo" at you in toys r us? Racoon quickly becomes a racist slur Yet he's not picked up my blatant swearing in the car

I do need to find a friendly pissed off phrase though. I say FFS about a million times a day.

Shanti0608 said:

purpledoveuk said:

Shanti0608 said:

I do need to find a friendly pissed off phrase though. I say FFS about a million times a day.

Me too...and he STILL can't say it. I call people Muddy Funsters for real now...it's so engrained

I try to call ppl Murky Flopsters.

Shanti Justin from Cbeebies he does Mr Tumble and Something Special (I can’t remember the other programme he does) will help your little one pick up simple sign language.

My grandchild uses sign language. A few week ago at waitrose in the queue she signed to my younger son that someone had farted and it was stinky she walked up and down and found the culprit, walked back to us and told us who it was how worse the smell was, she had us in stitches

Sign language does have its uses to stop those embarrassing situations but don’t stop people giving you funny looks when were laughing hysterically cause she is telling you someone smells like they poo’d their pants

TypoQueen said:

Shanti0608 said:

Did anyone teach their baby to sign to communicate before they could talk?

Just reading up on it. Every time I think about it, it reminds me of "Meet the Fockers"!

i think it's a cool idea.

Shanti0608 said:

purpledoveuk said:

Shanti0608 said: Oh trust me, even the most innocent words can be twisted by a 2 year old... Take Guedo from the Pixar Movie Cars...ever had an excited kid shout "Paedo" at you in toys r us? Racoon quickly becomes a racist slur Yet he's not picked up my blatant swearing in the car

I do need to find a friendly pissed off phrase though. I say FFS about a million times a day.

how's about:

ding diddly dang it all (see, ned flanders, the simpsons)

sounds like you are having fun

purpledoveuk said:

TypoQueen said:

Shanti Justin from Cbeebies he does Mr Tumble and Something Special (I can’t remember the other programme he does) will help your little one pick up simple sign language.

My grandchild uses sign language. A few week ago at waitrose in the queue she signed to my younger son that someone had farted and it was stinky she walked up and down and found the culprit, walked back to us and told us who it was how worse the smell was, she had us in stitches

Sign language does have its uses to stop those embarrassing situations but don’t stop people giving you funny looks when were laughing hysterically cause she is telling you someone smells like they poo’d their pants

I thought that was proper sign language though. I just don't get the point of it...it seems like a "look what my kid can do"...I mean it's fairly pointless for communication isn't it - my son wouldn't have been able to do it really young, after that you should be able to work out what they wNt and, by 18month they are using words anyway - or have I missed the point?

What Justin signs in not full sign language just a simpler sign language that helps children with learning difficulties.

My grandchild could not talk for a long time sign language was her only way of communicating. She has been signing for over two years now, we all have learned as well. Sign language is used with children who cannot talk, hear, learning difficulties, autism etc. Signing does have it uses especially if you have a frustrated child that can’t get its words out but can communicate in sign. Babies do simple sign language daily for things they want pointing at bottle, teddy for things they want or want to do, you would be surprised at how much signing we all do in daily life.

I forgot to add that Justin uses Makaton sign language, here is a link http://www.makaton.org/

XxAxX said:

Shanti0608 said:

Did anyone teach their baby to sign to communicate before they could talk?

Just reading up on it. Every time I think about it, it reminds me of "Meet the Fockers"!

i think it's a cool idea.

The littles could not help but learn to sing early right along with talking

They had 2 older siblings and every time we would ride in the car the music would be on and we all sang ... I sing, alway have ~ trained 2nd alto and LOVE to sing

TypoQueen said:

Yes, I taught my kids some signs before they could talk. It helps them communicate when they verbally can not. the ones I remember being used the most were "cookie" "more" "juice" "please" and "thank You"

I think it can go along way to battle tantrums and such because alot of that comes from mere frustration on their part because they can't tell you what they want or feel.

I'd say go for it. find a book that has the basics for kids...it's fun and it helps.

Mach said:

XxAxX said:

i think it's a cool idea.

The littles could not help but learn to sing early right along with talking

They had 2 older siblings and every time we would ride in the car the music would be on and we all sang ... I sing, alway have ~ trained 2nd alto and LOVE to sing

purpledoveuk said:

TypoQueen said:

Shanti Justin from Cbeebies he does Mr Tumble and Something Special (I can’t remember the other programme he does) will help your little one pick up simple sign language.

My grandchild uses sign language. A few week ago at waitrose in the queue she signed to my younger son that someone had farted and it was stinky she walked up and down and found the culprit, walked back to us and told us who it was how worse the smell was, she had us in stitches

Sign language does have its uses to stop those embarrassing situations but don’t stop people giving you funny looks when were laughing hysterically cause she is telling you someone smells like they poo’d their pants

I thought that was proper sign language though. I just don't get the point of it...it seems like a "look what my kid can do"...I mean it's fairly pointless for communication isn't it - my son wouldn't have been able to do it really young, after that you should be able to work out what they wNt and, by 18month they are using words anyway - or have I missed the point?

No, it's not pointless at all!! do a little reading up on it. I believe yes your son would have been able to do it at a really young age. It's pretty well documented that small children can and will learn sign language to communicate much earlier than they will develop their vocal skills.

Shorty said:

purpledoveuk said:

Shorty said:

No, it's not pointless at all!! do a little reading up on it. I believe yes your son would have been able to do it at a really young age. It's pretty well documented that small children can and will learn sign language to communicate much earlier than they will develop their vocal skills.

But I never struggled to know what my son wanted or was trying to convey, by 1 year he had basic sounds and actions for food and drinks, cuddles etc by 18 months he had several words and now at 2 he comes out with sentences I never knew he knew. It certain cases it seems very useful (disabilities etc) but in others it just seems as a way of showing off...I mean who am I to tell my son or other kids that they're asking for custard in the wrong way or that if he wants to say "all gone" it palm up not down, if he was cared I knew he was scared. It just seems a bizarre way to conform if you have to teach them a specific way of asking for something they would otherwise ask for in a different manner. For example what the protocol if he wanted to say rabbit with hands for ears on his head....why should you have to say he's doing it wrong? Maybe it's just me

lucky for you and your son that you or he never had an issue with communication. I for the most part could always figure out what my kids meant or wanted but sometimes I was like I don't know what you want honey. it was helpful for us.

To me your perspective on this is weird. No one said you have to tell them they are "wrong" that's like saying when they go to school if they want to spell ears...eers that's ok...as long as they get their point across right? who's to say they're wrong? there are correct ways and incorrect ways....somethings don't really matter and others do. Someone should alteast inform them of the correct way though....right?

Mach said:

XxAxX said:

i think it's a cool idea.

The littles could not help but learn to sing early right along with talking

They had 2 older siblings and every time we would ride in the car the music would be on and we all sang ... I sing, alway have ~ trained 2nd alto and LOVE to sing

imo cars are the BEST place to sing.

except, maybe, at stoplights

Baby Signing puts the picture in my head of folk ligned up with their babies and someone at a table with a Sharpie.

Shorty said:

purpledoveuk said:

Shorty said:

lucky for you and your son that you or he never had an issue with communication. I for the most part could always figure out what my kids meant or wanted but sometimes I was like I don't know what you want honey. it was helpful for us.

To me your perspective on this is weird. No one said you have to tell them they are "wrong" that's like saying when they go to school if they want to spell ears...eers that's ok...as long as they get their point across right? who's to say they're wrong? there are correct ways and incorrect ways....somethings don't really matter and others do. Someone should alteast inform them of the correct way though....right?

That's my point...why would you want to burden someone so young with the rightvand wring way to use hand gestures...it's not like your example of spelling etc whete it's an essential skill for later life...why dies it have to ve this rigid programme? Why not teach them proper sin language...surely it's the same principle and more useful. Perhaps I've just come across it on the wrong circumstances...but tonme it justvseems like a confusing fad that, by the time they are 2 you have to abandon for proper language skills

I am confused....

what rigid program? no one has said anything of a rigid program..

proper sign language.....I am speaking of proper sign language....perhaps I missed something here but I don't think we're talking about anything other than proper sign language.

Shorty said: