Signing

Signing isn't only for children with hearing difficulties. It can also help other babies and children who haven't yet mastered speech. Brothers, sisters and friends can enjoy learning to sign too - the more people who can sign, the easier it is for those who rely on it to communicate.

For a more detailed guide to sign language, including finger spelling, visit our hearing difficulties page.

My First Signs
Illustrated by Annie Kubler
(Child's Play)
Lots of cheery baby pictures illustrate this introduction to sign language with each baby performing a sign in a suitable situation. Arrows arrows show movement where necessary and the short textual descriptions beside each picture are so clear that any adult or older child can easily demonstrate the sign to younger children. The range of signs is excellent for a simple baby vocabulary and can easily be used to emphasise spoken words.
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My First Animal Signs
Illustrated by Anthony Lewis
(Child's Play)
In the same series but moving beyond baby language, the children in this board book's illustrations are past babyhood but still pre-school. Each child is performing the sign for the real or toy animal next to them and, once again, there are arrows and clear descriptions to help readers copy the signs. Starting with pets, farm animals and insects, it moves on to a wide range of wild animals. It's hard to think of a potential toy that isn't covered here.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Incey Wincey Spider
all by Annie Kubler
(Child's Play)
Each board book in this series turns a well known nursery rhyme into an action song by teaching the signs for the main words. The illustrations feature chubby, cheerful babies and toddlers performing the signs with occasional extra detail to hint at their meanings. Fun to learn with small babies and pre-school children, although some of the signs are slightly harder to work out than with the previous two books as there are no textual descriptions.
Buy Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star from Amazon   
Buy Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear from Amazon     
Buy Baa, Baa, Black Sheep from Amazon
Buy Incey Wincey Spider from Amazon

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