Words by the Handful baby sign language Spring Session begins on March 19. Just before I begin a new session, I get at least one question like this: Does using sign language with babies delay speech development? I can point you to over two decades of research that shows it does not. I’ve […]
Baby Sign Language Classes in Houston
Words by the Handful offers baby sign language classes in Houston for people living in the greater Houston area. We teach parents, caretakers and babies how to communicate with each other using American Sign Language at The Motherhood Center – our home for the past four years. You’ve heard about baby sign language […]
The I Love You Sign — Words you can never get enough of….
I opened the gift not knowing what to expect. It was a small box – light as a feather. What I found inside is more precious than gold. Three words: I Love You. From my mother. Not written on fancy paper, not recorded on a special talking card that I could […]
When to start, when to stop signing….
Parents often ask me when they should start signing with their babies. Answer: Anytime! A baby’s brain develops sufficient memory to begin assimilating signs at about six months, so I suggest that as the youngest age for babies starting my classes. The key to successful signing is the regular use and repetition of the signs […]
Twin talk….
Have you seen the adorable YouTube video of the chattering twins? They’ve got lots of adults watching…and chattering about whether or not they are communicating or just mimicking, what they might be “saying” to each other. One of the experts who has weighed in posits that they are ‘acting like’ they are talking as they […]
A Miracle in One Sign…..
One of the wonderful perks of teaching sign language to moms and their babies is hearing their stories. Here’s one I heard recently. A mom came up to me after class with her precious nearly-eight-month old daughter on her hip. “I just have to tell you,” she said, “the sign for OUCH is a miracle!” […]
Those Magic Words…
Please. Thank you. Important words. Simple words. So simple you’d think learning to say and use them would be easy. Not so, it turns out. Just ask any parent: “How many times do you have to remind your child to say please and thank you?” The answer: “Millions.” ….and patience can wear thin….. Signs […]
A moment to think….
A fellow author recently mused on Facebook that she was considering going ‘off the net’ completely – for one month…. and that she was a little anxious about it. In this day of instant communication, a month seems like a very long time to be out of contact. What could happen while you’re not paying […]
Getting Your Point Across….
I love this story from one of the moms in my Words by the Handful Baby Sign Language class. Mom was at home feeding her 13 month old son. She offered him something that he wasn’t anxious to accept. Her attempts to convince him to try it escalated his refusals, and he was soon flailing […]
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