Signing Hands; Baby Signing Basics by Lizzie Betts

*British Sign Language *Suitable for everyone wanting to know more about baby signing or starting to sign with their deaf child. Babies are able to make simple gestures many months before they are able to speak. By introducing just a few simple signs, a baby can learn how to communicate their needs and wants. Baby signing reduces guesswork for parents and carers. The proven benefits are calmer, more contented and confident children. This beautifully illustrated guide to baby signing has been produced in conjunction with experienced baby signing teachers at Little Signers Club and leading British Sign Language author, Cath Smith. With first signs, engaging pictures, tips and exercises, this book will quickly and simply show you and your baby how to communicate through sign. Who wouldn't want their child to be the first amongst their peers to be communicating, to be the most chilled out, to be happier, to have a real head start? Ben, signing daddy to Fin FINALIST; Most Innovative Baby Product 2010, The Baby Show for Trade

Baby Signing is something which I never tried with my children, however my son had speech difficulties and was at an Ican speech nursery (great charity) and he was taught some sign language and he picked some up with Mr Tumble on Something Special (CBeebies) and used it at times and I can see the benefits.

This book is a really good idea. It is a small book but includes lots of information within it. There is a basic introduction which gives the good reasons for baby signing and the one I would like to highlight is that signing is beneficial from the age of 12 months, when toddlers have an inability to express themselves clearly and tantrums can develop. Signing gives toddlers the ability to convey what they want or need.

There are a list of benefits to both parent and child learning sign language - increased confidence, reinforces creative and memory skills and the ability for a young child to express their wish or discomfort before language takes over.

The book contains 38 basic signs, those most commonly used and taught. Each page teaches a sign and also has a diagrams showing someone doing the sign, as well as directions in words. There is also a large picture of what the sign means - these are of a collage effect and are beautiful to look at and eye catching for babies too.

The book also has many tips included and these are recommended by expert teachers. It also discusses if your child is ready to start signing and some tips of getting your child ready to learn signing. The book also has a very useful page entitled 'signing hands - helpful tips for hand shapes' which has diagrams for 10 different hand shapes as described in the book.

There are 8 sections into which the 38 basic signs have been split: first signs (milk, eat, drink, more, all gone), family and home (mummy, daddy, baby, home, work); getting ready (get dressed, nappy change, bath, splash and duck); bedtime (sleepy, bed, cuddle, teddy bear and star); I'm feeling (happy, sad, help, doctor, poorly); pets (cat, dog, rabbit, fish); exploring (out and about!., out, car, walk, sun and rain); and exploring (garden, spider, bee and flower). At the end of each section is a song suggestion for learning/practicing the signs in each section.

This is a really great book, a useful resource for people thinking about doing baby signing with their child and gives lots of useful hints and tips throughout the book. I recommend it to all mums to be and new mums.

Thank you to Michael from The School Run forum for sending me this book to review.