learn baby sign language

Maybe I’ll reopen this one with the next baby.

Part of my ordination program is 120 hours of community service. I’d like to find a way to work with childred using ASL. I’m not sure exactly what kind of opportunity I’ll find, but I know my skills are not proficient enough to meaningfully communicate with adults using ASL, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to ease back into it and have some kind of positive impact on children at the same time. We don’t have to declare our community service project until January, but I’m hoping I’ll be guided to the ‘right’ opportunity for me.

ASL I and II a couple times and through my work as a relay operator (C.A.) I fell in love with the Deaf Community. But I especially love the idea of baby sign language. For hearing and non hearing children, giving them a leg up to communicate before they can grasp spoken language is a great advantage. I’ll definitely do this if/when I have a child. Could even be just a great skill to add to the tool belt I’ve been been filling as I travel on my journey.

Milk.

More.

Water.

All done.

They’re all food-related. I guess we have his attention while he’s eating.

Boo boo is seven months old now. We’ve been using the signs for “more,” “food,” “water,” and “all done.”

I suspect “more” and “all done” will be the first to take root.

BTW, baby sign language is easy and fun because you can introduce the signs pretty slowly, like just three or four at first.

Apparently it’s not worth it to learn baby sign language till he’s about seven months old because he can’t really learn it till then. Maybe we’ll start a little early—we tend to do things a little early with J.H.! He doesn’t seem to mind.