Interpreter in French Sign Language with deaf children, and mother of two little girls, Marie Cao, alias Little Bunbao on social networks is the author of a very complete guide to Editions Marabout to communicate in sign language with her baby : The Great Guide to Signs with Baby.
Also trained in the psychology of child development, Marie Cao delivers her knowledge on this method of gestural communication which allows toddlers to express their needs before they can verbalize them.
Communicate very early with your baby
A formidable communication tool, the sign language can be set up from the first weeks!
Although before 6 months the toddler’s brain is not yet mature enough to fully assimilate each sign, the visual connection that you will have established in its first weeks of life reserves you precious moments of exchange. As early as 9 months, or later with the acquisition of walking, your little one will be able to start reproducing the signs that you have shown him over and over again.
To show you his hunger, his thirst, his fear or perhaps his joy, he has at his disposal a varied repertoire of gestures. What an incredible way to reduce his frustration and to communicate other than by crying, for this so small being who does not yet master oral language! In addition to the strength of the parent-child bond established by sign language, its practice stimulates fine motor skills coordination and precision of movements. In addition, very early on, your baby learns to communicate with pleasure.
A Complete Guide to Speaking Sign Language with Baby
To guide you in learning sign language, Marie Cao offers you an accessible and fun method in her book ” The Great Guide to Signs with Baby », Published by Éditions Marabout.
“Again”, “Change the diaper”, “Dad”, “Mum”, “Câlin”… To all these little words essential to the baby-parents dialogue, correspond signs from French Sign Language. In total: more than 200 illustrated signs, captioned and filmed are collected in this guide.
You can also draw from it: keys for fluid learning, information on mothering and a series of fully signed nursery rhymes to associate gestures with singing.
How about practicing sign language? Here’s how to communicate with your little one when they need a change:
Position both hands in the “key” configuration, as if you were holding a key. Lay the inside of one wrist against the inside of the other wrist and rotate. One shot.
To see this sign in video click here.