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More and more parents are using sign language
Use sign language to communicate with little ones before they speak? The idea is attracting more and more families and nurseries in France. “By allowing young children to make their needs and emotions understood, without crying or shouting, just by using their hands, signs reduce their frustration and strengthen their self-confidence”, emphasizes Marie Cao, French sign language interpreter ( LSF). “They also reinforce the parent-child bond since they force people to look at each other. “
In video: Why and how to sign with your baby? Isabelle Cottenceau explains some simple gestures to us.
Sign language for babies: only keywords!
Obviously, no question of learning to sign complete sentences but just the keywords of everyday life: still, eat, sad … Playful and easy to use, gestural communication associated with speech can be used from birth, but baby will not start memorize the signs only from 6 months and reproduce them, if desired, around 8-9 months. But not all children are receptive! What about learning verbal language in all of this? As long as the word is always associated with the sign, there is no risk of delay, on the contrary.
To read : “The great book of signs with baby” by Marie Cao, ed. Marabout.
A story to read and sign together: “I love you, My first words of love in sign language” by Sandrine Higel, illustrations by Eléonore Della Malva, Hors Collection collection, hardback. Ed Glénat Youth
Sign language with baby: mothers testify
“The link between our 2 mother tongues”
Whether we say “manger” in French or “mangiare” in Italian, it is the same sign that we use in LSB, which allows my son to make the link between the two languages he hears at home. . Emilie, mother of Lorenzo, 18 months old.
“It can take a long time to set up”
At the museum where I work, we have created animations in sign languages to become accessible to people with disabilities. When I got pregnant, it was obvious for me to teach this modern language to my child in order to participate on my small scale in the inclusion of these people. He’s not signing yet but I feel he’s interested. I know it can take a bit long to fall into place and that persistence pays off. Anaïs, Arthur’s mother, 6 and a half months old.
“She is relieved to see that we understand her”
My best friend signed with her daughter who has always been a balanced child, not in frustration. When Amber was born, I therefore wanted to try, without pressure. With the signs, she was able to tell us as early as 9-10 months when she was still hungry, when she had a toothache. As soon as I made the sign she would stop crying. She was relieved to see that we understood. I hope that this will limit the frustration outbursts of the 2-year period! Marianne, mother of Amber, 16 months old.
“She spoke very early”
Signing forcing us to look at each other created a special bond between us. Hinaya showed her first signs at 7/8 months: “cake”, “change the diaper” and “I love you” at 10 months. As she never had the frustration of not being able to make herself understood, she had little anger and since the sign was always accompanied by the word, she entered verbal language very early in an obvious way. Delphine, mother of Hinaya, 2 years old.
“We didn’t need to sign, after all! “
I had planned to start signing with my last one from 6 months but ultimately didn’t need it. As a facilitator, I used to observe the children, anticipate their requests. Besides, Nolhan was very good at making himself understood when he wanted something. But I think sign language is useful when, as a new mother, you are afraid of not knowing how to translate your baby’s needs. Samantha, mother of Khyan, 10, Yianni, 9, Nolhan, 2 and a half.
” Music ! “
The first word Gaston signed was music. We used to put a lot of it at home. I found it fascinating that he knew how to express his desires at 9 months! Betty, mother of Elisa, 11 years old, Coline, 10 years old and Gaston, 21 months old.