Picture Books for Teaching a Baby Sign Language
Use Pictures and Simple Text to Help Your Baby Learn to Communicate
Mar 23, 2009
Baby sign language is a great way to boost your child's language skills. Babies who learn baby sign language develop language skills sooner and have larger vocabularies than babies who don't.
Teaching Your Baby to Sign
Teaching your baby how to sign is easy. There are many books written and DVDs produced that will show parents the signs to teach your baby. It is best to start with words that your child has the motivation to learn. For example, "more", "eat", and "drink" are the best words to start signing with your baby because your child has the motivation to learn these words. You can then continue with words in your environment your child is interested in. For example, if you have a cat that your child is interested in teach your baby the sign for cat.
Using Picture Books to Teach Your Baby to Sign
One way to teach your baby sign language is to use picture books with large colorful pictures of the words you want your baby to learn to sign. Hold the book with one hand so your baby can see the picture and sign with your other hand. If you need two hands to make the sign show the picture first and point to it, then do the sign in your babies line of vision. Here are some books to help you get started.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? by Bill Martin, Jr.
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1967. ISBN 9780805088960
This book offers colorful illustrations one per page and is a great book to sign with. Sign the words for cat, horse, fish and others.
Counting Kisses by Karen Katz
Little Simon, 2003. ISBN 068985658X
Use this book while teaching your baby the words for mommy, daddy, grandma, sister/brother, cat and dog. This book also has wonderful colorful illustrations that babies find attractive.
Spot Goes to the Farm by Eric Hill
Putnam, 1987. ISBN 9780399246142
This book will help while teaching your baby farm animals and offers simple text and illustrations that will be easy for you to sign with while reading the text.
Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2002. ISBN 9780399236020
Teach your baby the signs for family members and other common words around the house as baby wakes up and starts the day.
Who Said Moo? by Harriet Ziefert
HarperFestival, 1996. ISBN 069400846X
Another great book for signing animals. Make sure to make the animal noises as well. Combining the animal noises with the picture and the sign will help babies remember the sign.
Any book you read to your child will bring teachable signing moments that will help your child better remember and learn baby sign language. Look for books that have large colorful illustrations and simple text. Also, look for books that have words/signs you want your child to learn.Book recommendations to teach your baby sign language.Baby sign language boosts babies language skills.
