I met a one year old today who uses sign language to communicate with her parents

[graywarrior]

She can't formulate words yets, but you know exactly what she is asking for. I was amazed. I didn't realize that they taught sign in day cares. Very cool.

[Mutley]

1. Babies have the ability to learn language several months

before they are physically able to form words using their vocal cords. I think I've read that a baby can pick up sign language pretty easily as young as six months old.

[supernova]

2. Yes, both my niece and nephew used SL

before they could speak.

Their mom (really my niece) taught them signs for "milk" "juice" "more cheerios (or whatever it was they were eating)" "I'm finished eating" "sleepy" "play"

And lots of other things don't really need a sign because they are obvious enough: Hugs, stinky diaper,

Realiy cute seeing those little hands make the sign asking for juice, because they got it that the sign meant they could say something and mean it and have it be understood. Much less frustration all around.

:thumbsup:

[graywarrior]

3. I know, it was so adorable to see this little baby sign for more avocado.

[seaglass]

4. My niece was signing at 2, she is autistic, epileptic and possibly MR too.

She's an amazing little girl :-)

[zanne]

5. As long as they don't come up with sign language for cats...

We're safe. All they'd do is complain.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. How do we know they're not complaining now and we're just too dumb to understand them?

I love the new commercial (for a kitty litter, I think) where the woman is talking to her kitties in the way some adults are known to do, with baby talk and gestures. The cats are talking among themselves trying to figure out what she's say as if it's a charades game.

[graywarrior]

11. That ad is hilarious.

[zanne]

12. "You gonna be alright"?

Something I hear from my husband pretty often.

[graywarrior]

13. Ha ha ha ha ha!

[grasswire]

6. there's one in my family!

It's very handy. Since about 11 months, he's been signing for "more" for "all done" for "hungry" for "light" --- etc. etc. etc.

Very cool. I love it.

[huskerlaw]

8. I used to be a nanny

and we used it with the youngest kid. She was adopted from China at nearly 1 year old, so she had started to speak a BIT of Chinese, and definitely didn't understand any English. Talk about frustrating (for everyone)!

But we introduced sign language and she caught on right away. It actually helped a lot with the bonding process as we could show her that we were responsive to her needs/wants.

I've also seen it used with entirely American babies and it is definitely a great idea. Cuts down on the "what do you WANNNNTTT?!" frustration for the adults, and the kids have a lot more control over their own person as well.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. My brother taught his babies sign language.

By the time my niece was 13 months, we really knew when she wanted more.

[RainDog]

10. my niece uses it too

I can't remember if shaking both of your hands beside your head means enough or stop, but her grandfather was rocking her one night and singing to her. he has a TERRIBLE voice, so, of course, she started shaking her hands to tell him to stop!

:rofl:

we all laugh about that one and probably will for a looong time.

[electron_blue]

14. I taught my child some signs when she was ~ 1yr and it was so helpful.

She was late with talking, so knowing some signs (20-30) really helped so much. Her first sign was 'more'. Her second was 'cat'. :) She signed sentences, and even made up her own signs for some things.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. sign language is a beautiful way to communicate.

I love to watch it.

[realisticphish]

16. sign is great

it's incredibly useful for young children. There have been a few studies, that indicate, though not conclusive, that it might actually accelerate learning spoken language if the child already knows some sign