Six Stages of Signing

1. Amusement
When you first start signing with your baby, he or she might just look at your strangely. He is not sure what you are doing or why and might even laugh at you.

2. Recognition/Understanding
Next your baby will start to understand the meaning of the signs. Your baby’s receptive communication has begun.

3. Attempts & Imitation
Your baby will start to play with his hands more. He may try to copy your signs but not really know what he is doing.

4. First Sign!
Your baby has started to use her first sign. At first your baby might use the same sign for everything she wants to say. Watch for sign approximation at this point. Your baby’s signs may be awkward and you may miss them if you are not watching. Your baby’s expressive communication has begun. Congratulations!

5. Signing Vocabulary Increases
Your baby will start to use more of the signs that you have been showing him. He will also start to look at you to show him a sign for something. Pointed gazes will be happening more often. This is an important time to show your baby lots of new signs.

6. The Signing Eureka
Your baby suddenly really appears to “get” this whole signing thing. She has an impressive size vocabulary and wants to learn new signs all the time. By this time she is also picking up these new signs after seeing them only once.

You now have a Signing Baby!
It is important to remember to be consistent with your signing. Your baby will be taking a lot of the initiative, but they will still need signing stimulation from you.

Kim Kendall is a Sign2Me Presenter and WeeHands educator. She offers signing and infant massage classes through Out West Training Studio in Abbotsford.