From Baby Moon Moms:

"I am SUCH a convert to the value of signing! At this toddler stage, it has been an absolute lifesaver -- and they learn signs so quickly now! I am THRILLED that you are offering it and can't say enough about how important it is. When you have a demanding / spirited 16 month old, getting them to say 'please' when they are shouting for something feels like a small victory for socialization!"
-Lauren, Baby Moon Mom

"We started signing with our daughter at 6 months. At 7 months she signed 'more' for the first time--to tell me she wanted to share my glass of water [see photos]. Now at 14 months her verbal language is developing rapidly. Her signs have doubled her vocabulary at this age, allowing her to express more complex thoughts and talk about what is on her mind. I have been surprised by her fascination with butterflies, and impressed when she tells me she thinks it might rain--using word and sign combinations to make short sentences. I love that she can ask sweetly for more milk, or a drink of water, without the usual toddler whining and pointing--and the melting down that follows if no one understands. I am a huge fan of baby sign language, and I know that it is enhancing her learning and language skills."
-Anne, Baby Moon Mom

"Watching Violet use sign language was amazing! I was able to understand what she was thinking well before she was able to talk. Her grandparents loved it when we called because she was "asking" to talk to them by signing their names. How else would I have known, at 9 months, that she was thinking about Moogie and Doogie??"
-Kendra, Baby Moon Mom


Signing with Your Baby: Information for Parents

For Class Information click here.

Long before your baby can speak, he or she has the ability to understand speech and has the desire to communicate. All babies use gesture to try to communicate their needs--usually this takes the form of pointing, nodding, shaking their heads, waving bye-bye, or holding up their arms when they want to be held. Because these gestures are so limiting, they are usually accompanied by whining, crying, or screaming as babies and toddlers desperately try to communicate their needs and interests. Signing with your baby encourages a child's innate desire to communicate by teaching a more extensive gestural language that precedes, but does not replace, verbal language.

Babies as young as 7 months can recognize signs that parents and other caregivers produce. It's common around that age for your baby to start using gestures to communicate. Your baby is not born knowing how to communicate this way, she has learned it from watching you--from repetition and playful parent-child interactions.

The benefits of signing with your baby include increased attachment between parent and child, reduced frustration for baby and parents as expressive language skills develop over the first 2 years, and expanded vocabulary and language skills. Learning this gestural language is also good for baby's brain development, as it stimulates both the language centers and the visual processing centers of the brain. Other, long-term benefits include a greater interest in reading as children mature, higher IQ's (average of 12%), and increased self-esteem.

The baby sign language method is not a replacement for verbal skills and language acquisition. The most common concern from parents is the fear that learning to sign will delay speech in their baby. In fact, the research shows that babies who learn to sign actually develop speech earlier, and have a more extensive vocabulary, than their non-signing peers. When a baby learns to wave 'bye-bye,' for example, are we afraid that they will never learn to say 'bye-bye'? Of course not! With the baby sign language method, we always say the word when we sign it. Your baby has an innate desire to imitate your speech sounds, and she will take that next step as soon as she has the fine motor skills required for speech.

As with all infant and toddler milestones, there is a wide range of normal for speech acquisition. It is important to be patient with your child and to know that you are supporting communication and the development of language skills by signing--and speaking--with your baby.

We recommend beginning your baby sign language program around 6 months of age. When parents follow-through effectively at home with the signing techqniques learned in class, babies typically begin to sign back around 8 months of age. By 10-12 months babies are generally learning signs more rapidly. You might be surprised by what your baby wants to talk about!

If you've already missed the 6-8 month window, don't worry. Baby sign language is still appropriate and useful for typically developing older babies and young toddlers, up until the time that your child is communicating effectively with speech. This skill comes at different times for different kids. Our classes are open to children 6 months - 3 years of age.

Signing is also useful for older toddlers with speech delays, and is usually recommended by Speech / Language Pathologists as an important first step in the acquisition of effective communication skills and speech.

The Baby Moon baby sign language classes teach signs based on American Sign Language (ASL), so in addition to learning a temporary mode of communication you and your baby are also learning a real, standardized language that transfers, later, to other situations and to other people in your child's life.

Baby Sign Language Research Articles/More Information:

Gesture Paves the Way for Language Development
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/gestureresearch.html

Sign, Baby, Sign!
http://www.handspeak.com/tour/kids/index.php?kids=signbabysign

Can Baby Sign Language Delay Speech?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8060750

Children with Special Needs Using Sign Language
http://www.babies-and-sign-language.com/special-needs.html

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See Family Class Calendar for upcoming dates.

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WeeHands 'Signing Babies' Saturday Classes
Why wait to communicate? Long before your baby can speak, he or she has the ability to understand speech and has the desire to communicate. WeeHands uses songs and fun, motivating, language-based activities to help parents successfully teach signs to their babies. This early communication tool enhances your child's long-term learning abilities and reduces frustration and tantrums as expressive language skills develop.

Benefits of signing with your baby include reduced frustration for baby and parents, enhanced attachment, expanded vocabulary and language skills, higher IQ's, and increased self-esteem. Baby sign language gives you a window in your baby's world!

The WeeHands^TM classes and workshops are based on Joseph Garcia's award-winning Sign with Your Baby^TM program. Baby Moon is excited to offer Weekend Workshops as well as Saturday Sessions of Signing Babies I and Signing Babies II. To learn more about the benefits of using sign language with your baby, please see Signing with Your Baby: Information for Parents (below).

Class Details:
Advance registration required, class limited to 10 participants. For ages 6 months - 3 years. Special needs babies and tots also welcome.

Signing Babies Workshop: One-time, 45 minute workshop designed as an introduction to Baby Signs. $15. Space is limited, advance registration is required.

Signing Babies: Around the House: This 4 week series covers around 75 signs you can use with your baby in every day situations. Includes a take-home manual with pictures of all signs taught, lyrics to 6 songs, home activities and suggestions, and information on early language development. First-time families, $65 including take home booklet. Second-time families $60. Sessions can be taken in any order.

Signing Babies: Inside & Out! This 4 week series continues your baby's learning, covering over 75 signs you can use with your baby in every day situations. Includes a take-home manual with pictures of all signs taught, lyrics to 6 more songs, home activities and suggestions, and information on early language development. First-time families, $65 including take home booklet. Second-time families $60. Sessions can be taken in any order.

Instructor: Cindy Downey, Certified WeeHands^TM Teacher.

See Family Class Calendar for upcoming dates, or register now.

At 8 months, Baby Moon baby Elena signs "more" and "eat."
At 13 months, she has at least 10 frequently used signs chosen by her ("all done," "nurse," "drink," "rain," "fish," "dog," "bird," "butterfly," "bye-bye," "no") and she has as many words ("ball," "mama," "papa," "bye bye," "hi," "puffs," "doggy." "bug," "nana," "shoe"). Her signs allowed her to double her vocabulary at the early verbal stage.

Family Dance Night

Boogie on, reggae baby! Our new Family Dance Night is an opportunity to step out with the kiddies and shake your groove thing. Socialize with other Baby Moon families while our DJ's spin some highly dance-able tunes. Afterwards it's straight to bed for the worn out little ones. The perfect cure for the wintertime blahs!

B.Y.O.Sippie cup) and other (non-alcoholic) beverages if desired. Open to families of all ages!

DJ's: Willie Eames and friends

$5 cover at the door (per family); or REGISTER AHEAD




See Family Class Calendar for upcoming dates.




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