Baby Sign Language for Hearing Babies

Warburton, a Montessori preschool teacher, leads popular baby-signing workshops throughout New Zealand. Citing research revealing that signing provides a foundation for future language development, Warburton points out that signing babies begin using language earlier than nonsigners, score higher on intelligence tests and have larger vocabularies later in life. One of the primary benefits, however, is that this early method of communication alleviates frustration for both babies and parents, and when signing babies begin to verbalize, parents are more likely to easily decipher their first words. Signing babies, the author claims, also develop confidence and better self-esteem. Lest parents take signing too seriously, Warburton repeatedly reminds that learning to sign should be fun and offers age-appropriate guidelines, warning parents that babies under nine months are unlikely to sign back even though they may understand the gestures. The best way to use signing is to focus on words that are already part of a baby's world, like "milk" or "bath," the author explains. While some busy parents may argue that signing is the last thing they need on their cluttered agendas, others will be intrigued by Warburton's claims, which are shored up by parent testimonials. This compact guide includes a signing dictionary of more than 200 words, with illustrative photos demonstrating suggested signing gestures. (July)