Baby signs: how to prevent frustration in your little one

Baby signs are simple hand movements you make alongside the words you say. From as early as 6 months, your little one can make clear what they want, months before the spoken words arrive. Because you understand each other, you prevent the moments of frustration and tantrums that many children show after their first year. Four tips will help you start successfully at home: don't begin too early, choose signs for parents and signs for little ones, start small and give yourself a memory aid.

Why does your little one get frustrated?

As the parent of a baby, a toddler or a preschooler, you'll probably recognise the situation: your child gets upset because they are trying to make something clear, but the words aren't there yet. Most children go through a period after their first year in which they get frustrated quickly and can develop tantrums. The cause: they want to tell you something, but don't feel understood.

Put yourself in the shoes of a 1-year-old. Over the past year you've worked incredibly hard to grow and learn new skills. You already know your first words like ‘daddy’, ‘mummy’ and ‘cat’, you understand when mummy or daddy says it's time to eat or go to bed, and you have your own ideas and needs. Sometimes your parents understand you perfectly, but every now and then you want to let them know something and they don't seem to understand you at all.

After dinner, for example, you think: “I'm not finished yet, I want more banana”. You let them know by flapping your arms and making noise. But instead of getting a banana, you're lifted out of your chair and put down on your play mat. Hugely frustrating, and completely understandable that you let mummy and daddy know about it.

With a simple sign, this situation plays out very differently. Imagine your little one knows the sign for banana and can make their wish known, even before the spoken words. Then you understand each other and the moment of frustration never happens.

What are baby signs?

Baby signs are simple movements you add to support the words you say. You keep talking to your child as normal, because the priority is always that your child learns the spoken language as well as possible. You simply use your hands more while you speak. That makes the spoken words visible to your little one too, which boosts their opportunities to learn and develop.

It's really the same principle as waving goodbye: you flap your hands while saying ‘bye bye’. Because your child sees you doing it, they learn the meaning of the movement and eventually copy it.

You don't need to ‘practise’ the signs with your child or demonstrate them extra often. You use the sign quite naturally at the moments you say the matching word.

You can read more about the method at Gebarendoodle.

From what age can a child make signs?

A child can make their first signs from as early as 6 months. That's because the large movements of the hands develop earlier than the small muscles needed to pronounce words. On average, children start using signs between 8 and 10 months.

Compared with language development, you therefore start communicating with signs several months earlier. The fact that your little one can make themselves understood so early on strengthens the connection and creates good contact between you and your little one.

“From as early as 6 months, your child communicates with their hands.”

Martina Paulmann

Four tips for getting started with baby signs

Fancy trying out a few baby signs? These four tips give you the know-how to support your communication with signs successfully.

Tip 1: Don't start too early

From 6 months to 2 years, the effect of baby signs is greatest. That's the period in which I would recommend starting with baby signs. For a young baby of 6 months, learning signs takes a lot longer than for a child of 1 year, say, simply because learning to coordinate the hands still takes a lot of time.

Are you the impatient type? Then start with the signs a little later in your child's development. The chance that your little one picks up the signs within a few weeks is much greater than if you begin at 6 months.

Tip 2: Choose signs for parents and signs for little ones

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of signs. ‘Signs for parents’ are useful for setting boundaries, for example, such as the sign for ‘wait’, ‘finished’ or ‘careful’. ‘Signs for little ones’ are about things or situations your little one really enjoys and would love to tell you more about.

To start successfully, use both kinds. To begin with, be sure to choose signs for things your little one really enjoys or that have a direct, positive function for your child in communication. That way your little one is more inclined to use the signs themselves.

Tip 3: Start small

You don't need to become a sign language interpreter to prevent moments of frustration with baby signs. Starting with 6 to a maximum of 12 signs is quite enough. That keeps learning the signs manageable for you and your child.

As soon as your little one starts using the first signs, you can add a new sign step by step. That way you grow together and easily learn the signs that suit you.

Tip 4: Give yourself a memory aid

When you've only just started signing, the trick is to keep remembering it in the hustle and bustle of the day. No stress: it's normal to forget now and then, or to leave the signs out when it's inconvenient. In general, though, it is important to keep using the signs you've chosen fairly consistently.

A memory aid helps with that. Think of a post-it on the fridge or a (homemade) poster of the signs you use.

How to learn baby signs with De Gebarendoodle

An easy way to start is with the books from De Gebarendoodle:

Both books come with lovely posters of all the signs as a memory aid. The books are a fun, low-key way to start with baby signs or to look at the signs together with your little one.

In the Gebarenacademie you learn the nicest baby signs around themes, songs and children's books through separate, short modules. This is the best option for a good, extensive signing foundation, and if you plan to use signs while reading aloud and singing too.

Would you like to know more about Martina Paulmann? Visit her website for more information: gebarendoodle.nl/

Summary

• Baby signs are simple hand movements alongside the words you say; you just keep talking.
• A child can make signs from as early as 6 months and uses them on average from 8 to 10 months, earlier than the first words.
• Because your little one can make themselves understood, you prevent moments of frustration and tantrums.
• Start between 6 months and 2 years, with 6 to a maximum of 12 signs for parents and for little ones.
• A post-it or poster as a memory aid helps you use the signs consistently.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to start with baby signs?

Between 6 months and 2 years the effect is greatest. If you're impatient, start a little later: a child of around 1 year often picks up the signs within a few weeks.

How many signs do you need?

Start with 6 to a maximum of 12 signs. As soon as your little one uses the first signs, you add a new sign step by step.

Do you need to practise the signs with your child?

No. You use the sign quite naturally at the moment you say the matching word, just as you wave while saying ‘bye bye’.