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Advanced Tips for Success with Baby Sign Language
Expanding Vocabulary
Once your baby has mastered a few basic signs, you can begin to expand their vocabulary by introducing new signs. Gradually add signs for other common words and concepts, such as “water,” “bath,” “diaper,” “dog,” “cat,” “play,” “help,” and “hurt.” Expanding your baby’s signing vocabulary allows them to express a wider range of needs and emotions.
Combining Signs
As your baby becomes more comfortable with signing, you can start to combine signs to form simple phrases or sentences. For example, you might combine “more” and “milk” to create “more milk,” or “all done” and “play” to indicate “all done playing.” Combining signs helps your baby learn the concept of sentence structure and prepares them for verbal communication.
Using Signs to Express Emotions
In addition to basic needs and wants, you can teach your baby signs that represent emotions. Signs for feelings like “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” “tired,” and “scared” can help your baby express their emotions more clearly. This emotional vocabulary can be especially helpful during times of stress or frustration, allowing your baby to communicate their feelings in a constructive way.
Encouraging Two-Way Communication
As your baby becomes more proficient in signing, encourage two-way communication by responding to their signs and engaging in “conversations.” For example, if your baby signs “eat,” you can respond by saying, “Yes, it’s time to eat. Let’s get your food.” This back-and-forth interaction helps reinforce the idea that communication is a two-way process and encourages your baby to continue using signs.
Making It Fun
To keep your baby engaged and motivated to learn, make signing a fun and enjoyable experience. Use signs during playtime, sing songs that incorporate signs, and read books that feature sign language. The more fun and interactive you make the learning process, the more likely your baby is to embrace and enjoy signing.
