Sign language brings babies, moms closer
Signing skills can help with early literacy
On a rainy Monday afternoon, more than a dozen moms and their babies gather in a room at the Fish Creek Library.
Once the moms have parked their strollers and car seats, and arranged themselves and their little ones in a wide circle, instructor Marcia Bruce of Calgary is signing, engaging the group in a variety of activities.
The ABC’s are sung and as the moms demonstrate the sign for each letter, the babies roll, crawl and look around the room, mesmerized by the song.
Bruce leads the group in singing a song about food, to the tune of the Farmer in the Dell, demonstrating important signs for toddlers — milk, cracker, juice and “all done” — as she sings.
The parents are members of the Calgary Baby Signing Group — a collection of moms with children between the ages of one month and 24 months who are interested in teaching their babies sign language. In addition to meetings like this one, where Bruce volunteers her time and teaches songs and signs, the group meets at local parks and attractions.
Bruce knew she would try signing with her children when she was pregnant with her first son and saw a mom signing with her child at a dinner party.
Today, she has a threeyear-old and a one-year-old and is a certified baby signing instructor, who’s passionate about helping others communicate with their pre-verbal infants.
“I have a job at an oil and gas company downtown but I do this almost as a hobby just because I so believe in it and I just want other families to experience what we’ve experienced. It’s a really fun thing,” Bruce says.
By teaching babies and toddlers the signs for important words like more, milk or all done, children are able to communicate their needs. Bruce has seen reduced tantrums in her children and an improvement in early literacy skills, thanks to signing.
“You really have no idea how much they know until you talk to them when they can’t talk yet. It’s just the best thing ever. I always tell people it’s one of my best parenting decisions ever,” she says.
Jennifer Birchall founded the Calgary Baby Signing Group in February as a way to connect moms interested in signing with their children.
The free group has over 100 members, 30 of whom regularly come to in-person gatherings, while others participate online, where the group offers videos, tips, contests and more.
Like Bruce, Birchall became interested in signing after seeing a parent use it with a young child.
She signs with her threeyear-old and one-year-old and has seen a range of benefits. “It enhanced language abilities. It cut down on the frustration. It gives them a way to communicate,” Birchall says.
Member Tanya Lampey says learning baby sign language has been a great activity for both her 13-month-old daughter Nyla Wiebe and herself.
“It’s good for the IQ of the baby and it’s also good for the mom to be able to share and do this continuous learning,” Lampey says.
Bruce says while some worry baby sign language can negatively impact a child’s verbal skills, she’s experienced quite the opposite with her three-yearold, who loves to talk.
“It’s really fun and in terms of being a bonding activity. I think it strengthens the bond when you can communicate and they know that you know their wants and needs . . . It just makes everything easier,” Bruce says.