Posts Tagged ‘Early communication’
The Baby Signs® Program: A Movement Built on a Solid Foundation
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D. ,Professor Emeritus, UC Davis Susan Goodwyn, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, CSU Stanislaus Why Sign Language for Babies? There’s nothing more heart-wrenching than hearing a baby cry and not knowing why. The problem for babies is with the painstakingly slow development of the ability to produce words. Fortunately, babies are a good deal more…
Read MoreThe Power of Sign Language for Adopted Children
Adoption is a profound and beautiful way of creating families, and it comes with its unique set of challenges. Children who are adopted may have experienced trauma or disrupted early attachments, which can impact their ability to communicate effectively. One tool that has proven to be incredibly beneficial in helping these children bridge the gap…
Read MoreErin Schneider, Certified Baby Signs® Instructor in Southeastern Michigan
In the bustling world of early childhood development, few tools are as powerful as sign language when it comes to enhancing communication between caregivers and their little ones. Erin Schneider, a certified Baby Signs® Instructor hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Southeastern Michigan, has made it her mission to help parents, caregivers, and their children…
Read MoreUnlocking 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 MoreSpooky Fun with Baby Signs®: Celebrating Halloween Together!
Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to introduce your little one to the magic of the Baby Signs® Program in a fun and festive way! Baby Signs® can enhance communication with your baby, allowing them to express themselves before they can even talk. This Halloween, let’s explore how you can…
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…
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