Signing Babies with Lee Ann Steyns

The response has been phenomenal! I’ve added another Beginner course & an additional weekly Sing & Sign on Tuesdays for those that missed getting a spot. -> Last chance to register today before half-price disappears at midnight! https://www.signingbabies.ca/onlineclasses

DAY 3 of my * Big Black Friday sale * on all of my Baby Signing courses: --> Register for any upcoming course for HALF PRICE! (this deal is available until midnight tonight, November 28) https://www.signingbabies.ca/schedule

DAY 1 of my * Big Black Friday sale * on all of my Baby Signing courses: --> Register for any course and add a friend for FREE! (this deal is available until midnight tonight, November 26) https://www.signingbabies.ca/schedule

BOO! Learn some (not-so-scary) signs and songs for Halloween this week! -> add your email address below to receive my special 5-day series for you & your little monsters to sing, sign and learn. #babyhalloween #babysignlanguage https://www.signingbabies.ca/links

Can you spy Bennett’s baby brother tucked in behind him? Bennett started at my @signingbabies classes with his mom as a little bean in his car seat, and now he loves practicing signs and teaching them to his new sibling, James, at my virtual Sing, Sign & Stories classes. Signing is a family activity that is also a skill that will support bonding and sharing language for years. ... #signingfamily #babyactivitiesathome #babysign #babysignlanguage #familytime __________________ Join me virtually anytime! My weekly classes are offered both live and recorded & posted so you can self-pace and re-watch. All the details here (and there’s a 15% off discount code when you join my mailing list): https://www.signingbabies.ca/onlineclasses "I couldn’t be happier to have found Lee Ann and her virtual classes, and enjoying teaching signs to my baby Jayne. The joy when she finally communicated back to us is so worth it! Plus we learned so many songs. " -mama Margaux after taking the Beginner Baby Signing & Level 2 courses

We started signing with our little one but nothing happened so we gave up. I often hear from parents that they tried signing with their baby but stopped because it wasn’t working. Unfortunately they gave up too soon! ... It’s important to be realistic -and patient- about our expectations, and it may help to understand a bit more about the processes involved in learning a physical skill like baby signing. Our babies will learn anything and everything we show them consistently, with lots of repetition and context. 1 The first stage of babies learning to sign is always reception. Babies will watch you and take in what you show them, no matter their age, stage or abilities. Don’t let them fool you into thinking they’re not paying attention, babies see EVERYthing! 2 Then comes response. Babies will begin to put together the context you show them as you present signs alongside your daily activities (my daughter Ella would almost take flight by flapping her arms in excitement when I signed MILK before feeding!). 3 Then babies will start attempts to mimic back what they see their parents doing. This will most likely look clumsy, like a new St. Bernard puppy working out how to use its oversized paws. 4 Then, when a baby has developmentally reached the physical stage of being able to move their hands independently, their signs will slowly start taking shape and look more intentional. Their babbling hands will develop as they gain more dexterity. Throughout all of these stages, we can pay attention and support their efforts as they spend time in each one. And be patient. Generally speaking, babies can start signing back around 8-12 months old. Parents in my classes are always curious about the end result of seeing their baby sign back when we start learning and showing signs to their little ones. But it’s important to see each stage of learning unfold at your cutie’s pace, and keep building. #dontgiveup When did you start signing together ___________________ Get started without confusion with my guide to 'How and When to Introduce Signs to Your Baby' https://www.signingbabies.ca/

It’s never too early, nor too late, to start using signs with your baby. Research shows that some babies start showing recognition of sign language around 4-6 months, but it’s always a good time to start signing together. TRUTH: remembering to add the signs to your everyday banter is usually the trickiest part, so the earlier you start the easier it gets and the more your baby will see you signing (it’s the repetition that babies recognize and follow). No need to wait if yo...u’re thinking your baby isn’t ready. Also, it's never too late to start doing signs with your older baby or toddler. Signing reinforces learning verbal speech and the comprehension of words. If full verbal communication isn’t flowing yet, adding signs together can absolutely help. And there are so many added benefits to signing for both you and your baby! increases bonding because you’re actively paying attention & responding to each other more reduces frustration levels because your littles have a way to tell you what they want before verbal speech is available creates more calm & confidence because no one is feeling desperate or lost allows you to promote and confirm verbal speech attempts as you present language verbally AND visually gives you a peek at what your baby is thinking! Ready to start? My virtual classes are ready, too: Baby Signing 101 -1 hour Beginner Baby Sign -6 classes Level 2 -6 classes Sing, Sign & Stories -4 classes Drop-in classes See all the registration details on my website here: https://www.signingbabies.ca/onlineclasses

I’m giving away a spot in my 6-week Beginner Baby Sign Language course starting Oct. 15 with signing mama Dr. Mona Amin tomorrow! Tune in on Instagram to enter: www.instagram.com/pedsdoctalk