At a few months before two years old, my son speaks hundreds of words and often in full sentences. Hearing things like “Have it fruit bar, Mommy” and “Grandma driving car go Costco” are not unusual around our house and I attribute at least part of that to the signing we did with him from 6 months old to encourage 2 way communication. I used the internet, books and friends as resources and began with just the basics - “more” and “drink” - and added others as we needed them.

I wish I had found the videos from My Baby Can Talk sooner. We’ve spent the past few weeks watching the series of three regularly and, though he can say all of the words easily now, he has learned so many cool signs for things he loves that he’s bringing sign back into his vocabulary again. I’m hoping that between his knowledge and mine, we can teach his newborn sister more signs even sooner than he learned them!

Signing with babies has so many benefits. For us, our son being able to communicate has greatly reduced tantrums and frustration and has allowed him to speak much sooner than he may have simply because he experienced two way communication so consistently from such a young age. Granted, he’s probably wired for literacy and would have been strong in this area anyway (and is by no means any kind of a freaky genius - just a normal boy who can talk) - but the signing certainly didn’t hinder it! The mission of Baby Hands Productions Inc. states it so well…
What if you were unable to speak, unable to write or unable to walk and you were completely dependent upon another person to fulfill all your needs? Now imagine that all you want is a drink of water because you are thirsty. How would you feel if you were unable to communicate that need to that person? Do you think that you might be reduced to tears and screams if you were unable to have this basic need fulfilled?

The three DVDs - First Signs, Sharing Signs and Exploring Signs - retail for $19.95 each and introduce babies to 72 signs in a playful manner (and a strategic order). They’re the only baby sign videos I’ve ever seen that actually feature pre-verbal babies demonstrating the signs. Along, of course, with an adult demonstrating and speaking, and many many colourful pictures. The videos are recommended for babies 10 months and older but I’d guess that if you’re comfortable with showing a younger baby - 6 months or so - a DVD, they’d certainly benefit from it too. Particularly if you watch it actively with them and practice the signs together.

My Baby Can Talk also provides, completely free of charge, what I think is the best online dictionary of simple signs for new parents anywhere. It’s clear and concise, organized by initial letter, and is full of signs that apply to us as parents.

All three DVD’s (First Signs, Sharing Signs and Exploring Signs) are currently on sale at Amazon for 25% off! The links in this paragraph will take you right to the sales.

Win It! We’ve got 3 copies of First Signs to give away. To enter, email theopinionatedparent at gmail dot com with MY BABY CAN TALK in the subject line and tell us which sign from the My Baby Can Talk dictionary you’d most like to teach your baby. Contest closes at noon MST on April 4, 2008.

Get up to two additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with MY BABY CAN TALK in the subject line and the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate email from your other entry).

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