| Baby sign language has been shown to very | | | | & “I” often get confused. |
| beneficial to a baby’s language development. So | | | | Understands simple sentences such as "show me |
| much so, that the typical language parameters of | | | | your eyes (nose, mouth, hair)". |
| children are changing thanks to a child’s ability to | | | | ___________________ |
| express themselves through baby sign from as early | | | | By Age Three: |
| as 6 months of age. | | | | Speech is more accurate and they can be |
| So how can a parent know if their child’s | | | | understood by familiar adults. |
| language, listening and speech skills are developing | | | | Uses three to four word sentences. |
| normally? All children develop their language, listening | | | | Is using some past tense such as “jumped”. |
| and speech skills at different rates. Below you will find | | | | Uses pronouns I, you, me correctly. |
| a chart based on a non-signing child’s typical | | | | Recognises their own needs such as hunger or thirst. |
| language development but this does not take into | | | | Have favourite books and television shows. |
| consideration the use of baby sign language with | | | | Knows around three prepositions such as |
| children. Please note that this table is a guide only. | | | | “in”, “on” or “under”. |
| Your Child’s Age | | | | Is using some plurals such as “socks” or |
| Typical Language Development:- | | | | “shoes”. |
| By Age One: | | | | So how does baby sign language change the above |
| Turns head toward the source of the sound. | | | | milestones? |
| Watches your face when you speak. | | | | The main difference is your baby’s ability to |
| Responds to familiar sounds such as the car in the | | | | begin communicating through sign earlier than their |
| driveway, the dog barking, the door bell ringing, the | | | | vocal skills will allow them. By the age of two, while |
| telephone ringing etc. | | | | non-signing babies are combining words such as |
| Responds to their name. | | | | “more milk”, parents of signing babies have |
| Understands simple instructions such as “no”. | | | | experienced two-word communication through baby |
| Tries to repeat your sounds or familiar sounds from | | | | sign language as early as 14 months of age. This is a |
| their environment. | | | | 10-month gap in communication. Dr Acredolo & Dr |
| Uses one or more word with meaning. | | | | Goodwyn further highlighted these benefits in a |
| Babbles (says "ba-ba" or "ma-ma"). | | | | study where three-year-old signing children had |
| ___________________ | | | | developed the language and vocabulary skills to a |
| By 17 Months: | | | | four-year-old. |
| Points to objects, pictures & people. | | | | This does not mean that a signing baby will |
| Most vocabulary is mainly nouns ie. People, place, | | | | necessarily speak earlier than a non signing baby but |
| animal or thing. | | | | that they will have the ability to communicate their |
| Tries to imitate easy words. | | | | thoughts, wants and needs through sign while being |
| By The Age of Two Points and says the name to | | | | pre-verbal. |
| simple body parts such as “nose”. | | | | This ability for children to communicate their needs |
| Starts to combine words such as “more | | | | and wants causes children to be less frustrated and |
| milk”. | | | | research has shown that it has great language |
| Can name a number of objects in their environment. | | | | development and vocabulary building benefits. |
| Can use some pronouns such as “He”, | | | | Give your child a head start in language development |
| “My” or “I”. However “My” | | | | with Australian baby sign language. |