 Sign
and bond
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1
Why I started Sign and Bond
When my eldest daughter was born in 2000, I naturally used sign language
to her as it was our home language. Then I had heard about the phenomenal
interest in the USA about baby signing and, when I was pregnant with the
twins in 2003, I investigated this further and immediately launched Sign
and Bond after my twins were born in January 2004.
I use standard signs from British Sign Language, which is now an official
recognised language in the UK. Some of the BSL signs are slightly modified
to match the movements of the tender fingers and thumbs of the babies,
as some are quite difficult to use and sign. We are the only company who
uses highly trained trainers with at least a level 2 signing qualification
and with experiences of working with babies and children. We also work
closely with a large charity called the British Deaf Association, which
has endorsed the work we do.
Strengthening the parent-child bond
I have seen the immense benefits of baby signing with my children and
many of my other friends' children. For example, it increases their self
esteem, reduces their frustrations when they cannot form the words they
need to communicate and strengthens their bonds with their parents and
other family members. This is why I have called my company Sign and Bond,
and I have not looked back since!
Baby signing greatly benefits hearing babies too, as they can communicate
as effectively as our children. Many parents and professionals think it
only applies to deaf babies but that is totally untrue. If hearing babies
sign, parents will see a marked improvement in the number of tears, tantrums
and frustrations. It allows parents to share their worlds, to boost their
children's self-esteem and self-confidence, and to strengthen the parent-child
bond. They enable their children to communicate before their vocal chords
are developed because of their pre-language acquirement. Baby signing
is a good opportunity for babies to tell us what they want or need or
to just say they saw a bird.
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