Baby Sign Language [Paperback]

Karyn Warburton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 27, 2006

A fully illustrated guide to the latest parenting trend

Baby Sign Language is a practical, illustrated guide that shows parents how to teach their babies simple, easy-to-remember gestures to convey thoughts, needs, questions, and answers-long before the babies can talk. Packed with useful advice, this delightful guide will help develop cognitive skills, cut down on communication frustration, and create a stronger bond between parents and babies, with:

- Clear, step-by-step instructions-based on the author's popular workshop format
- Photographs and drawings to illustrate each sign
- Baby-centered sign language activities, including songs and storytelling
- Signs graded for difficulty levels
- Tips on how to introduce and reinforce key signs

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Warburton, a Montessori preschool teacher, leads popular baby-signing workshops throughout New Zealand. Citing research revealing that signing provides a foundation for future language development, Warburton points out that signing babies begin using language earlier than nonsigners, score higher on intelligence tests and have larger vocabularies later in life. One of the primary benefits, however, is that this early method of communication alleviates frustration for both babies and parents, and when signing babies begin to verbalize, parents are more likely to easily decipher their first words. Signing babies, the author claims, also develop confidence and better self-esteem. Lest parents take signing too seriously, Warburton repeatedly reminds that learning to sign should be fun and offers age-appropriate guidelines, warning parents that babies under nine months are unlikely to sign back even though they may understand the gestures. The best way to use signing is to focus on words that are already part of a baby's world, like "milk" or "bath," the author explains. While some busy parents may argue that signing is the last thing they need on their cluttered agendas, others will be intrigued by Warburton's claims, which are shored up by parent testimonials. This compact guide includes a signing dictionary of more than 200 words, with illustrative photos demonstrating suggested signing gestures. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Karyn Warburton leads Baby Talk workshops across New Zealand, and receives emails from baby-signing parents around the world. Her website, baby-talk.com, offers parents information, resources, and online courses on teaching hearing babies how to use sign language.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (June 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399532609
• ISBN-13: 978-0399532603
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,127,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, practical, and easy to read, April 22, 2008

By 

K. Olney (WILMINGTON, DE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baby Sign Language (Paperback)

I'm surprised to see this rated so low. I love this book! I was able to read it in a matter of hours and immediately start teaching my twins to sign. I passed the book on to my MIL who watches the girls while I work and she even read it and implemented signing immediately. I've never known this woman to finish a book in the ten years I've known her, so that's saying a lot right there.

The theory and implementation steps were very clear. The last 1/3 of the book is devoted to large pictures and detailed instructions for how to form each sign. My twins started signing within a few weeks of us starting at 9 months old, and quickly asked for more and more signs. Their gift for gab won out around 15 months old when we stopped teaching them new signs. They could say just about any new word clearly so there didn't seem to be much point in continuing signing. They just turned 2 and are talking in complete sentences. I think baby signs really helped their language development.

It's true that the signs illustrated in this book are not ASL, but who cares? We weren't trying to teach our kids a second language, just get them through that frustrating period when they want to communicate but can't verbalize their thoughts. The signs and techniques in this book worked perfectly for us.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book w/ great pictures of each sign - my 12 month old can tell me when he wants more, when he's going potty, etc!!, October 16, 2007

By 

Sundrycollector - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Sign Language (Paperback)

This is a GREAT book. A good read, easy to understand, and the collection of pictures at the end of the book made it easy to learn the signs (for me and my son!). This book has truly helped my son learn how to communicate with us even before saying a single word. He started signing at 9 and 1/2 months old and he could tell us he wanted more to eat, more to drink, etc. I was truly amazed and I HIGHLY recommend this book. This book is better than the Joseph Garcia "Sign With Your Baby Book". The pictures are easier on the eyes and easier to understand. Now, according to the previous review, not all the signs are the exact right ones as the ASL. Well, to me, it doesn't matter - as long as my kid can communicate with me! It's sign language for the hearing baby...!

12 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars All New Zealand Sign Language, not ASL, October 28, 2006

By 

Lulu (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Sign Language (Paperback)

Why this book was reprinted in the U.S. (after it's initial publication in New Zealand) is beyond me. This book contains all New Zealand Sign Language, not American Sign Language (ASL). Contrary to what many people think, sign language among the deaf population is not universal. Countries all have their own version of sign language and ASL is used only in the U.S. and Canada. This book was written by a New Zealand author who offers classes in her country. The highly disappointing and surprising twist is that it was published by Perigee, an American publishing house devoted to publications dealing with deafness and American Sign Language, so it's not like they didn't realize the book was not ASL! Very strange! A better choice..."Baby Sign Language Basics" or Sign, Sing and Play" both by Monta Z. Briant.