Signing Babies
Signing Babies
How often as parents have we ourselves felt helpless by our babies’ cries, be it in the middle of the night or during the day. It is not always easy, as working parents, to come home to those small moments which can turn into large ones. After a long day in the office you do your best, by process of elimination, to find out what your child is looking for or needs.
After a short period of heart-rending tears from your toddler you have nearly emptied the whole cupboard with the hope of finding out what he or she wants.
Now with the help of using baby signs through Irish Sign Language your baby can let you know what she needs.
Now no longer do you have to guess the cry!
Simply Signing® is a new and unique educational service for the Irish community, parents, babies, and care professionals.
Parents, without effort, are already introducing their babies to signs. Waving hello, waving goodbye, pointing and blowing kisses. These are all common signs that babies pick up naturally. Using signs to communicate with your child can be that simple. Parents are now more aware of the emotional and educational developmental needs of their babies.
Infants at a young age begin to realise that words have meaning. They are aware that objects have names and are now grasping the concept of vocabulary. Babies’ vocal cords do not developed until between 12 and 18 months and they use gesture and eye contact to receive the attention they want; this is their way of communicating.
As babies have very good control of their hands and concept of language, Irish sign language can help bridge the gap for the child and parents, encouraging communication, language development and social interaction.
In today’s society there are many new hobby- activities for parents to take up and Simply Signing® offers something much more. Babies as young as 11 months are now signing what they need whether it is a “biscuit” or “more milk”. Babies are now learning that they can influence a topic of conversation by introducing a sign.
As speech and sign coincide with each other you are encouraging speech. Signing allows babies to clarify their message while also trying to succeed on word pronunciation.
Simply Signing® is a very new & exciting concept for the Irish Community. Since inception Simply Signing has been providing support and assistance to numerous parents, crèches, care workers and educational organisations
These programmes are designed to assist pre-school teachers and childcare professionals in facilitating a positive language and learning environment. Simply Signing® programmes are also available to parents of babies/children with Disabilities, i.e. speech and language difficulties, Apraxia of speech and Tracheotomized children and also Autism, who would greatly benefit from a signing programmes. Simply Signing® programmes are aimed at all parents and children in the community regardless of their background or abilities. To date Simply Signing has created excellent links with ABA schools in the greater Fingal and Leinster region.
Simply Signing® would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and professionals who have successfully completed training with Simply Signing® and who are making positive changes to the lives of children in their care.
Lorna McCormack
Website www.simplysigning.ie
Written by
Ireland's leading Early Years education Magazine
