Language Development
Unlocking Communication and Early Literacy: Baby Signs® Classes at Your Local Library
Parenthood is an incredible journey filled with precious moments and milestones. One of the most eagerly awaited milestones for parents is when their baby starts communicating. While verbal communication typically takes time to develop, there’s a fascinating method that can bridge the communication gap between parents and their little ones – Baby Signs®. And guess…
Read MoreWhy Children’s Fears Increase in the 2nd Year
by Dr. Linda Acredolo, co-founder the Baby Signs® Program Although signing with babies is my passion, I also enjoy sharing other insights about development. Here’s an example from Baby Hearts, my book co-authored with Dr. Susan Goodwyn. Along with cake and ice cream, a child’s first birthday brings with it a not so nice gift – a significant…
Read MoreEnhancing Early Communication: The Baby Signs® Program and Early Head Start
Communication is a fundamental skill that shapes the way we interact with the world around us. For infants and toddlers, the ability to express their needs and thoughts is especially vital as they navigate their early years of development. One innovative program that has gained significant attention for promoting early communication skills is the Baby…
Read MoreWhy Kids Love Animals
Ever wonder why children, even babies, are so drawn to animals? Even linguists have long been aware of this attraction. Turns out that more than a third of the average baby’s earliest words are names for animals with “cat,” “dog,” “bird,” and “bunny” leading the pack. What’s more, we see a similar trend among signs.…
Read MoreKeeping the Bough from Breaking: Signing and Attachment
By Linda Acredolo, Ph.D, co-founder of the Baby Signs® Program What do you think is the optimal age for a child to be adopted? If you’re like most people, your answer is “at birth.” It just seems like common sense to us today. Unfortunately, however, for centuries of adopted children that was not the typical…
Read MoreHelping Toddlers at a “Loss for Words”: The Baby Signs® Program and Social Development
By Linda Acredolo, Ph.D. and Susan Goodwyn, Ph.D. Co-founders, The Baby Signs® Program Every parent wants his or her child to enjoy other people and to be well-liked. In Developmental Psychology, we include both these goals under the term “social development.” Although most parents are aware that innate differences in temperament contribute importantly to individual…
Read MoreLate-Talking Toddlers: How the Baby Signs® Program Can Help
By: Catherine Brown, M.A., CCC-SLP Speech-language pathologists refer to children as “late-talkers” when they are slower to develop verbal/expressive skills than their peers even though they have very good receptive (language comprehension) skills. This pattern distinguishes them from “language-impaired” children who have significant deficits in both language comprehension and production. In contrast to language-impaired children,…
Read MoreEnhancing Communication and Safety
Celebrating National Baby Safety Month with the Baby Signs® Program Welcoming a new baby into your life is an exhilarating experience, accompanied by immense joy and a strong desire to keep your little one safe. As parents and caregivers, ensuring the safety and well-being of your baby becomes a top priority. This National Baby Safety…
Read MoreLinking the Baby Signs® Program and Literacy Development
By Linda Acredolo, Ph.D. and Susan Goodwyn, Ph.D.Co-founders, The Baby Signs® Program The buzz word is literacy…. All around us we hear about the importance of literacy. Parents are told to read, read, read to their children—whether it’s cloth books, board books, or chapter books. With all this emphasis on literacy, it seems particularly important…
Read MoreUsing Infant Sign Language in Multilingual Classrooms
Classrooms today are increasingly diverse, with students coming from families that speak a variety of languages. This presents challenges for comprehension and communication, both for students learning English and for teachers trying to support the needs of multilingual students. One innovative solution that can help bridge these language gaps is using infant sign language. Infant…
Read MoreThe Baby Signs® Program: A Helpful Tool in Bilingual Settings
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D. & Susan Goodwyn, Ph,.D. As more and more parents learn the value of exposing their children to second and even third languages early in life, the number of babies being raised in “bilingual homes” is rapidly increasing. Just what does this mean? In many cases it means that one parent speaks one…
Read MoreBaby Signs® Early Childhood Educator Training: A Tool for NAEYC Accreditation
Early childhood education plays a pivotal role in shaping children’s development and preparing them for a successful future. As child development centers strive for excellence, meeting the rigorous standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) becomes paramount. One program that aligns seamlessly with these standards is the Baby Signs®…
Read MoreEnhancing Communication and Development
The Baby Signs® Program in Child Development Centers In the ever-evolving landscape of early childhood education, innovative programs are continuously being explored to support children’s growth and development. One such program gaining recognition is the Baby Signs® Program, a communication tool that uses basic sign language with babies. Its implementation in child development centers has…
Read MoreThe Benefits of the Baby Signs® Program for Military Families
Although every family with very young children faces challenges, those faced by military families are particularly daunting. Here are just a few of the special situations that make their lives so stressful. How can signing with babies and toddlers before they can talk make life easier for military families? First, let’s consider the proven benefits of…
Read MoreEnhancing Communication and Language Development: Exploring Baby Signs®
In the early stages of a child’s life, communication is essential for their overall development. Babies may not be able to speak yet, but they still have a strong desire to communicate their needs, thoughts, and feelings. This is where infant sign language comes in. The Baby Signs® Program uses simplified gestures or hand movements…
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