| The early years of parenting are the most | | | | by the eighth or ninth month." |
| difficult and trickiest part in any parents' life. It is | | | | Infants lack the cognitive ability to coordinate their |
| the most important too, as the bonding that | | | | lips, tongue, brain, breath, and vocal chords |
| occurs between parent and child at these early | | | | simultaneously, i.e. they lack the motor skills to |
| stages play a crucial role in the relationship for | | | | speak. But hand-eye coordination is possible in |
| years to follow. Understanding your infants' needs | | | | advance of the acquisition of verbal skills. Infants |
| can be most frustrating, as crying is just about | | | | can learn to express their needs using simple signs |
| the only communicational skill an infant is capable | | | | for common words such as "eat", "sleep", "more", |
| of, until they learn to speak. The art of | | | | "hug", "play", "cookie", "teddy bear", etc., before |
| interpreting their wails and moans and figuring out | | | | they are able to produce understandable speech - |
| their needs can be very difficult and complicated. | | | | Amazing but true. If you can master the skills, |
| Babies attempt communication as early as their | | | | and teach your baby to express himself through |
| fetal stages. A return kick to a tummy rub, a | | | | 'signing,' it can bridge the gap between you and |
| punch to a loud song, these are the earliest forms | | | | your infants' world. The end result? Contentment |
| of communication. Until about four months after | | | | and peace of mind for both of you. |
| birth, their communication consists mainly of | | | | Teaching and using baby sign language consistently |
| reflexive crying to express themselves. At this | | | | with your hearing baby can hold many other |
| stage, reacting to crying is extremely important | | | | rewards. |
| and the best strategy is to understanding their | | | | · Helps accelerate baby's verbal language |
| cries and expressing the desired response. | | | | skills earlier than usual |
| Showing interest and attending to the baby's | | | | · Helps enhance baby's receptive and |
| needs shows that the communication is working | | | | expressive vocabulary |
| and builds the attachment and trust between you | | | | · Helps them learn to read more easily as |
| and your child. Parenting can be more enjoyable | | | | a child |
| when positive parent - child relationship is | | | | · Enhances their creative ability |
| established. Good communication is the key to | | | | · Results in a higher IQ by 10-12 points |
| building self-esteem as well a mutual respect. | | | | · Promotes a better child/parent bond |
| This communication can go a step further, with | | | | There has been significant research on the |
| the help of baby sign language, where your infant | | | | benefits of Baby Signs, including its application on |
| actively participate in making coherent expressions | | | | children with special needs and development |
| of their needs. Teaching your infant to sign their | | | | delays. Some of this research indicate that |
| needs at an early age before they learn | | | | children who have been taught Baby Signs have |
| coordinated speech will help reduce frustration for | | | | achieved early vocabularies and have had |
| both you and your child. Research by Joseph | | | | improved cognitive and communication skills |
| Garcia, an American Sign interpreter and a leading | | | | throughout childhood. Baby signs are highly |
| proponent of use of ASL as the basis for Baby | | | | recommended by childhood educators, speech |
| Sign, indicates that babies who are exposed to | | | | pathologists and child psychologists to help |
| signs regularly and consistently at six to seven | | | | enhance the early stages of a child's development |
| months of age can begin using signs effectively | | | | and for a better parent child relationship. |