Title: The Baby Signing Book, Second Edition
Author: Sara Bingham
ISBN: 978-0-7788-0451-2
Suggested Retail: $24.95 USA and Canada
Published by Robert Rose
288 pages total • 7″ x 10″
I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. When my first daughter went to daycare, our provider mentioned how sign language could increase vocabulary and decrease temper tantrums. We invested in a video series called Signing Time with Rachel Coleman to help my husband and I learn how to sign (both of us had no prior knowledge of sign language) and to teach our daughter.
Our oldest learned some of the basics and I think it did help with early communication. With our second, she seemed to be more attentive to the series and was commented upon by her early childhood teachers to be advanced with her vocabulary. Our son learned the basic signs, but seems to just be interested in Cars for video watching.
I received a book to help teach signing, The Baby Signing Book by Sara Bingham. It includes 450 ASL (American Sign Language) signs for babies and toddlers. What so neat about babies learning sign language is that it allows them to have the ability to communicate before they develop speech. They can then express what they want and need.
One interesting aspect to this book is that it offers age-specific tips on how to teach sign language as your child grows up. The Baby Signing Book is broken down into three parts.
- Detailed introduction to signing with your baby and young children.
- Dictionary with 450 ASL signs that include illustrations.
- Songs and Rhymes to sign with your child.
- The top five signing tips
- A program that parents can customize according to their family’s needs
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- Instructions on the five distinct components of ASL signs: body space, hand shape, movement, palm orientation and facial expression
Since my children have had an introduction to ASL signs, we had the most enjoyment with the games and rhymes included in The Baby Signing Time Book. If I had to be introduced to ASL again, I think this would be a wonderful book to start with. The drawings and wording on how to produce the signs are great. There are even lines to write in the date you introduced the sign to your child and they date they were able to produce it, which I thought was different. I think for a baby or young child to learn sign language, participation by the parent or guardian makes a world of difference on how well the child or baby learns ASL or any other form of communication.
