2. At what age will I see my baby beginning to sign?
Between the ages of 6-9 months, babies have developed the fine and gross motor skills in their hands to initiate signs. Babies are able to use hand gestures long before their vocal-motor skills are developed. Most babies demonstrate the first signs between 8-10 months of age. Keep in mind every baby will learn at a different rate. My daughter's first sign was "Daddy" at the age of 14 months.  

3. When should I begin to teach sign language to my baby?
You can begin as early as birth! Cognitive development precedes physical motor development. Although your baby may not have the motor development to demonstrate a sign, they do have the cognitive ability to make the association betweeen a sign and the object it represents.  

4. What can my baby "tell" me with sign language?
Just about anything that is on their mind! They will be able to tell you they would like "more", they are hungry, thirsty, when they want to play with a ball or read a book. Their ability to participate, as an involved family member will increase as their tools for communication increases.  

5. My baby is over a year old. Is it too late to start teaching and will my baby benefit from sign language?
It is never to late to introduce sign language to your infant or toddler. Sign language can expand their vocabulary to express their needs with more clarity. In fact, depending upon your goal, you can introduce sign language at any age. Most YMCA programs, daycare centers, private pre-schools, and elementary schools are teaching sign language in some form. This would provide your baby with a head start. In addition, most four-year universities offer sign language as a second language credit course! Click Benefits for more information. 

6. Will sign language eliminate the "terrible two's"?
On a personal note I can say it did not eliminate the "terrible two's", but it most certainly reduced its fury of my daughters frustration! A significant amount of terrible two's tantrums are derived from the baby's frustration of not successfully communicating their needs. Sign language provides a baby with an effective tool to communicate clearly. I do not even want to imagine how bad the "terrible two's" would have been in my home if my daughter had difficulty communicating her needs! 

7. How does sign language affect intellectual development of a baby?
The methods used to teach babies sign language can incorporate use of all five of the human senses: touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste. In addition, it involves kinesthetic (movement) elements. Research has proven signing can have positive long-term effects on a child's intelligence. For example, sign language can enhance a pre-school child's vocabulary, spelling, early reading skills, and IQ scores have been shown 10 points higher than babies who did not sign.  

8. Does your course use American Sign Language?
Yes, Tiny Talking Hands is based on ASL. Due to the difficulty of some signs, adaptations have been made so babies can imitate with ease.  

9. I am the lone ranger! I cannot convince my daycare or family to participate. Can my baby still benefit?
I totally understand! Your baby will still learn and benefit from sign. It will just take a little longer. I urge you to hang in there and don't give up! You will be amazed at how quickly they join in when they see your baby sign for the first time or communicate a need …making their guessing game days a thing of the past! I will never forget the look on Daddy's face when my daughter signed "Daddy" to him for the first time. I never had to try to recruit him again!  

10. How many signs will I have to learn?
The amount of signs and types of signs are up to you and your family goals. Tiny Talking Hands categorizes over 200 signs in order to provide you with a variety to meet your lifestyle. We start you out with three basic signs. Once you are started we provide you with assistance in setting your goals, as a family, to determine which signs you would like to teach your baby.  

11. My child has Down Syndrome. Can signing help?
Without a doubt! No matter what age, sign language can help bridge the gap between cognition and communication as a vocabulary builder. It will add a 3-D concept to their thoughts to facilitate verbal development.