FAQ

I have answered below some of the most common questions to do with baby sign language and my courses. I’m so enthusiastic about baby signing, that I tend to ramble on a bit, but if I’ve missed something out, you’re welcome to write and ask on the “Contact me section”.

1. What is baby sign language?

Baby sign language is simple signs that you use when you talk to your baby. E.g. When you to give your baby milk, you say “here’s some milk” at the same time as using the sign for milk. Being consistent (using the sign each time your baby gets milk) and with repetition over time, your baby will gradually make the connection. When their bodies are ready, they will be able to use the sign themselves and tell you when they are hungry and want some milk.

The reason this is possible is because babies are able to control their hands and movements long before they are able to control their mouth, tongue, vocal chords and so on. It’s a complex combination of skills needed to be able to create a word! It’s important to remember that baby sign language is used together with speech. Your baby will hear the words at the same time as see the signs. The signs are simply a temporary bridge to speech. Hearing the words at the same time will help them on their way with their verbal skills.

2. Why should I use babysigns, what are the benefits?

The best way for me to answer this question is by giving you an example of a conversation I had with my Robin, when he was just 15 months old. This was one of the many wonderful conversations I had with him before he could talk with words.

This cute conversation illustrates perfectly what the benefits of baby sign language are and why you should use them.

• 1) Robin was able to communicate to me what he wanted (cheese) and didn’t have to get frustrated by me trying to feed him a banana or some porridge or even completely misunderstanding and bouncing him on my lap singing songs trying to cheer him up.

• 2) Signing enabled Robin to share his world with me. He told me what he fancied (cheese), what he found interesting (cold cheese), different (stripy cheese) and funny (hiding cheese).

• 3) Robin and I felt a magical bond, we could understand each other and we could share a joke.

• 4) Being able to make himself understood would be a boost for Robin’s self-esteem and self-confidence.

• 5) His signing “pulled” more verbal language from me. I explained why the cheese was cold and why the cheese was stripy. My talking and explaining would again be beneficial for Robin’s language development.

• 6) And the fact that he managed to communicate with me would inspire him to learn to communicate even more and even better (learning to talk).

Think how many words a normal 15 months old can say. Maybe they haven´t even said their first word at this point. Even though they are so young, they are so observant, they notice and remember so much, they are curious about the world around them and they already have lots of humour and personality. They´re able to express all of this with signs. – Ingenious is the only word for it!

To sum up the benefits, they can be put in three categories – practical, emotional and intellectual:

Benefits:
Practical:

1) Helps your baby communicate before they’ve mastered words
2) Reduces tantrums and frustration for both baby, -and you as parents

Emotional:

1) Opens a window to your child’s heart and mind
2) Strengthens the bond between you and your baby
3) Boosts your baby’s self-esteem and self-confidence

Intellectual:

1) *stimulates brain development
2) *Makes learning to talk easier
3) *once talking they talk in fuller sentences sooner
4) *they develop a larger vocabulary
5) *score a higher IQ than non-signing children

* See below to read about research on the intellectual benefits to signing

3. What does research say about signing?

Research shows that children who use baby sign language in addition to speech:

• Communicate better, earlier and more clearly with their close relatives.
• Develop a larger vocabulary in the early speech development phase.
• Talk in full sentences earlier than children who did not use signing as a supplement to speech.
• Have higher IQ ́s than those who did not use signing (a study of 8-year-olds who previously used  signing)*

The conclusion was that sign language combined with words improved and
enriched a child ́s speech and cognitive abilities.

Research also revealed that the advantages of signing continued well into a child’s life, even after the child started talking and stopped using signs.

* Sources: “Mine tegn i barnehagen” – Arlene Temte & Monica Ingemarsson (2013). Research results released by the “National Institutes of Health” in the USA – Linda Arcredolo & Susan Goodwyn.

Here are some more good research papers available to read online:
https://www.signingtime.com/wp content/uploads/2019/06/ wp_SigningwithBabiesChildren.pdf

Susan Goodwyn, Linda Acredolo, and Catherine Brown (2000). Impact of symbolic gesturing on early language development. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 24 (2), pp. 81-103. Available online.

Acredolo, L. P., & Goodwyn, S.W. (July 2000). The long-term impact of symbolic gesturing during infancy on IQ at age 8. Paper presented at the meetings of the International Society for Infant Studies, Brighton, UK. Available online.

Brie Moore, Linda Acredolo, & Susan Goodwyn (April 2001). Symbolic gesturing and joint attention: Partners in facilitating verbal development. Paper presented at the Biennial Meetings of the Society for Research in Child Development. Available online.

4. I’ve already starting using signs with my baby, but I’m not sure if they are the same signs as you use in your classes. Will this be a problem?

Sign language and baby sign language are different from country to country. There are also variations in the same country’s sign language, just as we have accents in spoken language. It’s not a problem if the signs you’ve been using are different from mine. You can follow along with “my” signs while in class singing the songs. And, as it’s important to be consistent, stick to the signs you’ve been using, when practising at home.

5. Is learning baby sign language complicated for me as a parent and
will it take a lot of work?

No, baby sign language is not complicated at all. Parents, without thinking, already teach their babies several simple signs, like clapping to express delight, pointing, shaking their head for no, and waving hello and goodbye. If we just expand this repertoire a bit we can also teach our babies to tell us if they are hungry/thirsty/tired or can’t find their teddy. If we expand the repertoire even some more we can enjoy having two-way conversations with our dearest one.

Parenting can be rather overwhelming as there never seems to be enough time. That’s why learning babysigns the Tegn og Trall way is such a good idea! The learning is masked in silly songs, sitting on the mat having fun with your little one, amongst other likeminded parents and wiggly babies (or if you choose the online course – in the comfort of your own living room with a cup of coffee at hand). As the signs are so simple and the songs are fun, you practically learn without even noticing.

However, teaching the signs to your baby again will take a bit of work. You need to be consistent and repeat the signs often. But don’t worry, this is why Tegn og Trall is a 10 week course. Mia and I are there for you in our living room/on screen once a week, as well as in our closed fb – group, so we will be reminding you and helping you along the way. Within the course signing will have become a natural part of your communication with your baby. Then the exciting part of them copying the signs will soon follow. So yes, success with babysigns does demand a bit of work, but fun work. And the effort put into it is definitely a brilliant investment! Once your baby signs back in return, I promise you, you will be amazed, and it will motivate you to get signing even more.

6. When should I start teaching my baby babysigns?

It’s up to you, find what suits you and your family the best. Some parents begin as soon as their baby is born just to get into the habit. The baby will probably not be interested in what mummy and daddy are showing with their hands for quite a while yet. But like with language, we talk to babies from day one (and often before then); we just don’t expect them answer!

Babies can begin to understand and respond to signs as early as 4 months. You can notice this by seeing that they look in the direction of what you have said and signed (“where’s your teddy?” – baby looks over at their teddy) or seeing that they get really excited, licking their lips, when asked “do you want milk?”. I find around this age is a good time to start, as babies are now more alert and interested in the world around them.

Understanding the signs is a step on the way, but they themselves won’t be able to show signs in return til earliest 6 – 7 months, but later than this is more normal.

If you start signing this early, it’s important to remember that it can be quite a while until your efforts are rewarded, so please don’t to lose motivation and give up. Stick with the signs and your baby will start signing when they are ready.
If you start using signs when your baby is 9-10 months (or later), then your baby will have more control over their body and hands and a better understanding of the world around them, so you may see results quite quickly.

If possible though try to at least start by 9-10 months. Later is also fine, you just may miss out on some possible magical signing months. But it’s definitely better late than never! It’s only too late when your baby is talking fluently and clearly.

Basically, start anytime you feel motivated to. However, the key is to be consistent and not to give up. Parents who don’t have success usually give up too soon.

7. Will baby signing make my baby lazy to talk?

No, the opposite is often true! It seems like the ability to sign and communicate will actually give your baby a thirst for “more”. More and better communication, I.e the spoken language. A long-term Baby Signs® study funded by the National Institute of Health and conducted at the University of California, showed that using signs as a matter of fact makes it easier for babies to learn to talk.

Here’s what some Tegn og Trall parents said when asked: Did the fact that your baby used signs slow down their progress when it came to talking with words?

8. We are a bilingual/trilingual family. Will not baby sign language be
yet another thing to learn and confuse my child?

No, adding signs to the mix will actually help your child! The signs act as a bridge between the different spoken languages. Your baby sees one sign (e.g. the bird sign) but hears that it can be called different things by different people (e.g. “bird”, “fugl”, “ptáček”). This makes it much easier for baby to connect the object or happening (“lets wash your hands”, “vi må vaske hendene”, “umyjeme si ruce”) with it’s meaning.

I have personal experience with this, as we are actually a trilingual family. I speak English with my children, they have Norwegian in nursery and school and Czech with daddy. Several people told me that my kids will probably be later in talking because of being exposed to 3 languages, but I found that this wasn’t the case. They all were no later, if not a bit sooner in communicating with words than other toddlers of their age.

9. When do you advice my baby and I to start Tegn og Trall?

Any time from around 4 months is a good time to join Tegn og Trall. Babies are more alert to the world around them at this age, as well as they are beginning to be able to grasp things in their hands. Useful for our music making, even though most of the smaller babies’ maracas end up in their mouths.

If you start early (4, 5, 6… months) then you as a parent will get a lot out of the course. This, because your baby hasn’t yet learnt to crawl and you can concentrate on all that I say and show. Your baby will still enjoy wiggling on the mat hearing the music and observing the other babies and mummies/daddies.

If your baby is a bit older and now moving about, then they will really enjoy crawling and exploring, discovering the toys, enjoying the songs and shaking the maracas. It will be fun picking things out of our surprise bag each week. And they will also love seeing Mia Mjau each time and giggle when she disappears and pops out again.

You as a parent will now be a bit more busy, taking care your baby doesn’t curiously stick their finger up another baby’s nose. It’s no crisis missing what I say in class though, because everything is written in our closed fb group, as well as you can watch the online classes in your own time. One good thing about starting early though (4-6 months) is that if you do enjoy the course, which I truly hope so, you will then be able to do one more course before having to start back at work! You can repeat course 1 or move on to course 2. Lots of parents like repeating course one, as their babies enjoy it more and more when they recognize the songs and Mia and I. But it’s also fun learning even more!

In course 2 we learn new fun songs and more signs, now singing about the potty, nursery, zoo animals, the rainbow, as well, my favourite, silly tidying song.

Most of the babies joining Tegn og Trall for the first time are between 4 months and up to a bit over a year. This is because most parents start back at work and their baby starts nursery. Older “babies” are very welcome too though.

10. My baby will only be 3 months at the start of your course, will he be too young to join?

I have had several babies as young as 3 months at the start of a course before and they’ve also enjoyed it. Even though they maybe haven’t been able to hold the maracas yet or pick anything out of the surprise bag, they’ve still enjoyed the music, the singing and the other babies. The parents have been able to follow every thing I’ve said as the baby has been peacefully on their lap or on the mat. And just two, three weeks on and the baby has been already able to participate more in the classes, holding the maracas and observing more what was happening around them. As a baby can start to understand signs from around 4 months, it can be a good time to start exposing them to signs. If you feel like your baby is not ready, then you can learn all the basics and start using signs when you feel the time is right.

The social aspect of actually getting out and meeting other parents can also be very important for your own well-being, which again is important for your baby! So if it feels like a long time to wait until the next courses start, 3 months or more, you might as well give it a go. Learn something very useful, enjoy a cosy musical time with your baby and natter with other mummies and daddies.

11. I’m uncertain whether it is wise to commit to your 10-week course because of the unstable Corona situation. How have you adapted your course to this situation and what will happen to the course if the situation gets worse?

Yes, the situation nowadays is very unstable, I have therefore several back-up plans should things get worse within a course.
Firstly, I will disinfect the mat, maracases and toys before each class. I’ll have a bottle of hand disinfectant ready for all to use and I’ll make sure there is plenty of space place between each family.

Parents and babies are asked to stay at home when they are ill. If you miss your class, then you are welcome to join the online class instead (Thursdays at 12). The online course runs parallel with the living room course, so if you are away from your class, but join Thursday’s online class the same week, you will learn about the same theme.

I myself will be extra careful when it comes to being ill. If my kids or I have a cold, then our class will run online instead. Same time and day, just on the screen. If I’m too ill for that, then I will make a new class online for you when I am better again.

As the rules are now in Oslo, we are only allowed to be 10 people gathered (4th Okt). As babies count as a separate person, then that means only 4 people with babies in my living room are allowed. I hope this rule will change though before the course start, so that I can be 6-8 people with their babies. With that amount of people there will still be plenty of space in my living room, and from experience, there are usually a few people each lesson that can’t make the class. If the situation gets worse within the course, we will go over to being online instead. During the course, if anyone should wish, they can switch over to the online course on Thursdays at 12.

And finally, I can say that everything we talk about and learn will be posted in our closed fb group. Corona situation or not, it’s still really useful and magical to use baby signs with your baby.