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Baby Sign Language - A Way of Communicating With Your Infant
For a parent, communicating with their child is one of the most rewarding experiences possible. This experience usually takes close to 2 years to begin. Verbal and audible skills develop much slower in babies than motor skills. Interestingly, recent studies by experts in the field of early childhood development show that there may be a new way to communicate earlier with your child – sign language.
Discovered by renowned child development expert Dr. Joseph Garcia, this new form of communication can help you communicate with a child as young as 4 months old. The child cannot respond until the age of 8-9 months but if taught, a 4-month old child can understand their parents and other caregivers. This allows parents to open a line of communication for their child far earlier than if they solely depended on verbal communication.
What is Baby Sign Language?
Sign language for babies involves utilising a baby’s developing motor skills to form a line of communication, this can be done by actions like hand movements that are associated with words. This discovery was made when Dr. Garcia observed a child of deaf parents communicating to the parents much easier and at a much younger age. This allowed researchers to expand their research to include children that could hear and how they communicate with parents that could hear. The results indicated that children could perform the hand gestures associated with a word like 'mother' much earlier than orally communicating the word.
Using this technique is known to open the lines of communication with your child well before they can actually speak. This doesn’t cut out their temper tantrums or stop the crying but it can at least help you communicate with them from an early age to calm them down or soothe them. This also allows a child who has not yet developed the requisite speaking skills to communicate with parents about any problems like injuries that may be bothering them.
When to Start Teaching Sign Language to a Baby?
Babies begin developing their motor skills by the age of 4 months, this means you can begin teaching them how to sign by this age. A child may not be able to respond or use the skill to communicate till the age of 8 months but they will understand and be able to process the information within the first month of being taught the skill.
Simple sign language words for babies can be taught to a child at the age of 4 months. They should be able to process and understand the information and what it stands for within a week or two of being taught.
How Does Baby Sign Language Work?
Much like any the other lines of communication, baby sign language builds a connection of understanding between your baby and you. As your baby grows, they begin to develop the ability to perceive and mimic hand movements. Using your movements and reinforcing them with words that are associated with those actions, you can begin training your child to understand and respond to these movements.
The basic principle of sign language involves a combination of gestures done in sequence, which may indicate a word, groups of words, or a simple sentence. Since a baby has the ability to move before they speak, sign language can be used as an effective means of basic communication. This over time can become a method of fluent communication as well and is commonly used to help deaf infants and children communicate with their parents.
Benefits of Infant Sign Language
As mentioned above sign language for babies is not only for deaf children and carries many benefits for audibly healthy children as well:
Teaching sign language to babies significantly enhances their brain development.
Sign language builds a bridge between thought and action. This helps children develop better coordination.
Teaching babies sign language allows them to communicate better with the audibly challenged. This opens doors to new societies to them.
Children who learn sign language at infancy are known to be better communicators as they begin communicating at a much earlier age. Gestures are also a huge part of communication and your child will be comfortable using them from a very early age.
Sign language is thought to help your child empathize more.
Teaching a child sign language is known to enhance their ability to orate and speak in public.
Sign language can help children with confidence issues in communicating in a non-verbal and non-threatening manner which can help them build verbal confidence.
Sign language, if taught to children early enough can help them enhance their linguistic absorption skills.
Teaching Baby Sign Language
Like with teaching any new language, there are a lot of obstacles and challenges to consider when teaching your child sign language. The most important thing to keep in mind is persistence, patience and practice. Teaching your child any skill, be it motor or verbal, these three points are always helpful. Here are a few signs to teach babies first.
1. More
This sign can be extremely helpful when your baby begins to learn to use it, they can indicate a need or requirement.
How to Teach
Extend the fingers on both hands. Bring all five fingers of each hand together to form a point. Tap each point together and say ‘more’, this will reinforce the meaning to your baby. You can also say the word in your local language and English to help enhance the sign’s meaning.
2. Done
This sign can be extremely useful and can help communicate the finality of an action or indicate the end of a chore to your baby. This can also help you tell your child that something is not available.
How to Teach
Extend all your fingers, showing the back of the palm to your baby, twist your palm to show an empty front of the palm, verbalize the word 'done' while performing the action to help your baby understand and relate to the action. Ensure you say the word slowly and clearly to emphasize the effect and relationship of the word to the action.
3. Eat
This sign is extremely handy during meal times. When the child is able to understand and mimic this action, they can tell you if they are hungry.
How to Teach
Extend all your fingers and bring them to a point. Bring the fingertips to your lips and repeat this motion. Say ‘eat’ or ‘food’ while doing this action, this will help them relate the action to the word.
4. Milk
One of the easiest signs to teach a baby and possibly one of the most useful, this can be used to help communicate feeding times for your baby or when they begin using it can be a way for them to tell you they want milk.
How to Teach
First show your child an open palm, then curl it into a fist and pull down, the motion is similar to that of milking a cow, repeat milk slowly, clearly and several times during the action to reinforce the word through verbal communication.
5. Change
Babies always resist diaper changes, this is because they don’t understand that they can play once they are changed and feel the diaper change is a sign of being separated from their toys. Using this sign can help them communicate the change is temporary and using the sign done can indicate the completion of the diaper change.
How to Teach
Make a fist in both palms, connect the wrists and knuckles together and rotate the fists in a clockwise direction. Once the changing is done, sign 'done'. Repeat the words 'change' slowly and precisely at a pace where your baby understands it, do it while signing, do the same and verbally repeat done when signing 'done'.
6. Help
One of the most important signs to teach a baby, this could be critical when your baby tries to ask for help or indicates something is wrong. Teaching this sign will instantly improve the lines of communication and reduce the tantrums.
How to Teach
Showing your child both palms, place one flat and facing the ceiling, make a fist with the other and push your thumb towards the ceiling, place the fist on the palm, lift the palm and push the fist up, curl and extend the thumb, this signifies help. Repeat the word 'help' while doing the action to reinforce its meaning.
7. Play
This sign can be met with enthusiasm from most children, it is also important as they can use it to say they want to play.
How to Teach
In both palms, curl the centre three fingers and extend the thumb and little finger, connect the curled fingers at the knuckles of the other palm, this makes a Y using your hands, swing this towards your chest and away from it while repeating play.
8. Water
An essential component of life, teaching this sign will help you better understand when your baby is thirsty. They can use this sign to ask for water.
How to Teach
Extend all your fingers on one palm, connect the fingertips of the thumb and little finger, this will make a W, move this to your lips and away from your lips while repeating water. This will help them understand the action and the word are linked.
9. Book
A vital part of any child’s development Is reading to them or having them read, this sign lets your child know it’s time for a book.
How to Teach: Open both palms, connect them together at the little finger, mimic the opening and closing of the book in your palms by bringing the thumb together and then further apart again. Say the word book out loud, slowly while performing the action.
10. Bird
Teaching your child the action for a bird can be a fun way to introduce them to the world of animals. Use this sign while reading a book about animals to show them what a birds looks like.
How to Teach
This sign is very simple to teach. Cross your palms over each other, and lock your thumbs, so that your palms extend on either side like the wings of a bird. This gesture also casts the perfect 'bird-shadow' in the sun!
11. Share
This sign can help instil a crucial behavioural value to your child, remember sharing is a very important aspect of life and this sign can help you get that point across from an extremely early age.
How to Teach
With both palms open, place one palm’s little finger along the line of your other palms index finger, have your thumb point to the sky and move the upper palm with the little finger on the index finger of the lower palm towards the thumb and back to the fingertips of your index finger. Repeat the word share while performing this action.
12. Please
Like share, this action can help instil an important word into your child’s life, this can teach them to be polite and ask for things.
How to Teach
One of the easiest and possibly most important signs to teach a child, repeat the word please slowly while placing your palm on your chest and rotating it in a circular clockwise motion.
13. Thank You
Much like the previous two signs, thank you is an important sign to teach your child.
How to Teach
This is another easy sign to teach, say the word thank you while moving your open palm towards your lip and away, mimicking a flying kiss.
14. Apple
Using the word apple in sign language can help you indicate what an apple is, this can be used at mealtime to indicate that they are getting an apple to eat.
How to Teach
Make a fist and push the index finger’s knuckle slightly out, let the knuckle connect to the cheek and twist it counterclockwise, say the word apple during the action.
15. Bread
Another sign useful for meal time, like apple it can be easy to teach and can tell your child what they are getting to eat.
How to Teach
Place one open palm against your chest, move the other hand’s palm up and down in front of the palm that is against the chest. Say the word bread while doing this. The action with the palm in front mimics the slicing of a loaf of bread.
Things to Remember While Training Your Child
Here are a few key points to keep in mind when training your child sign language:
Be patient, teaching them sign language takes time and can be frustrating, every child learns at their own pace.
Don’t force it, if your child doesn’t get it right away don’t force the action, a child needs to understand and mimic the action, this can take time.
Speak in calm, even tones. This will soothe your child and help them understand every action’s related word.
Frustration is normal as a large part of teaching your baby sign language is one way. They cannot perform any action till their motor skills develop. Try taking breaks between signing to calm down.
Talk to your childcare specialist for more tips and things to remember while teaching your child sign language.
Tools to Make Learning Easier
There are numerous tools like books, seminars and instructional videos to help you understand how to teach sign language to your child, some psychologists and physicians practice sign language with children, talking to them will help you understand the tools you require for the job. Using pictures while signing can help visually link an action and word, this can make it more relevant. Remember to talk to a specialist in children’s communication and baby sign language to better understand the logic, technique and method for teaching your child this skill.
The development of your child is a lifelong process, depending on what skills they learn, life can become easier for them. Sign language for babies can help improve communication but it does not guarantee an end to their tantrums if your child is acting out and behaving abnormally badly, talk to a child psychologist. Enlist the help of child psychologists to also understand different techniques that may help you learn how to teach your child sign language and what signs to teach them. Remember to ask them if they can give you a guidebook to sign languages with images of different signs.
Also Read: How to Support Healthy Brain Development in Babies Read more
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Adam Name Meaning and Origin
The name Adam has been popular in the previous generation where we can find this name among our uncles and father. The popularity of the name gradually increased from 1970 onwards and reached its highest peak during the 1980s. However, with time, the name has steadily lost its significance. Despite this, the name still holds out in the top 100 baby names list in the US.
What does Adam mean?
Knowing the meaning of a name can help you in deciding what name would best suit your child. The meaning of Adam is “son of red Earth” in Hebrew. It also means “human being” or “man.” The name is associated with the reddish color of human skin. This name has a symbolic reference to the Bible because Adam being the first man created by God. The name has been popular in the Middle Ages and is widely popular among Christians.
Origin
The origin of the name Adam is from the Hebrew word “adamah,” whose meaning is “earth.” Its Biblical connotation is prominent since the name Adam refers to being formed from the earth.
Gender
Male
Pronunciation
Adh-am
Add-um
Ad-am
Syllables
Two syllables
Length/Letter
Four letters
Name Variations/Spellings
Variations of a name denote its trends among different cultures and traditions. Similarly, other spellings for Adam signify the origin of the name from various parts of the world. Hence, some of the Adam name variations are:
Name
Origin
Adao
Hebrew
Adamsen
Danish
Addis
Hebrew
Adamson
English
Adamsen
Norwegian
Adham
Arabic
Adamsson
Swedish
Eads
English
Adan
Hebrew
Adamo
Hebrew
How Popular is The Name Adam?
The name Adam is one of the classic names widely popular from the 1970s; however, it has slightly declined in popularity. According to the Adam popularity index, the name is within the US’s top 100 baby boy names. Data collected from the Social Security Administration presents its rank being 45 in 2000, followed by 51 in 2001. The name started to decline in the popularity ranking gradually and slipped from 80 in 2010. The name was consistent with a rank of 82 in 2012 and 2013.
The SSA data indicates the increase in the name’s rank after 2013 since the name reached 73 in 2015. However, the name again started declining from 2018 onwards, with its ranking being 79 in 2018 followed by 90 in 2019. The Adam baby name ranking was 96 in 2020, representing the downward curve in the name. Although the name has been losing its popularity in the US, it is scope to climb its rank in the future. This is because this name has a symbolic meaning with its roots in the Bible.
Interest in Adam - Worldwide
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The interest in the name Adam has experienced a slight decrease in the curve over the last decade. The name ranked the highest in December 2012 and the lowest in June 2021. This suggests the name’s appeal has gone down globally, although the name has maintained a rank over 40.
Interest in Adam - the US
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As per the US trends, the interest in the name Adam has remained over rank 35 in the last ten years. The name has experienced an upward and downward slope in the country, with it being ranked the highest in December 2012. An increase in the name’s interest was also observed in December 2019, followed by January 2020.
The popularity of the name Adam
URL: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Where is The Name Most Searched
Search trends of Adam - Worldwide
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According to the search trends of the name Adam worldwide, Turkey ranks the highest with 100. Azerbaijan follows it with 64, Bulgaria with 47, Poland with 45, and Australia with 33. It indicates that the name has been the most popular in these countries over the last decade.
Search trends of Adam - the US
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In the US, the search trends for the last ten years reveal Massachusetts and New Hampshire at the top with 100. West Virginia ranks third with 96, followed by the District of Columbia with 95 and Connecticut with 93. The search trends in these cities are relatively high, indicating its popularity and wide usage in these cities.
Middle Names That go With Adam
You may think middle names don’t hold vital significance. However, they play an integral part in maintaining a smooth flow of a name and therefore should be selected with diligence. Some of the suitable double names with Adam are:
Antonio
Luke
Benedict
Noah
Joseph
Leo
George
Tristan
Dorian
Aaron
Merlin
Jasper
Patrick
Lewis
Theodore
Samuel
Nicholas
Mathias
Christopher
Finlay
Famous People Named Adam
Celebrities often have a significant influence on the name choices of your children. You may be more inclined to select a name in honor of your favorite celebrity. Therefore, some of the popular personalities named Adam are:
Celebrity Name
Profession/Famous For
Adam Levine
Lead singer of Maroon 5
Adam Scott
American actor, producer, comedian, and podcaster
Adam Lambert
American singer
Adam Smith
Scottish economist
Adam Sandler
American film producer, actor, comedian, screenwriter, and musician.
Adam Rodriguez
American actor, screenwriter, and director
Adam Brody
American actor
Adam Allouche
French-Lebanese competitive swimmer
Adam Bolder
English footballer
Adam West
American actor
Similar Names & Last Names
There are several names with different spellings but similar meanings. It is the same for baby names like Adam, where there are various alternatives to a name. This list includes some of the other names for Adam along with family names for Adam:
Similar Baby Names
Suitable Family Names
Bartlett
Miller
Oliver
Johnson
Kaj
Clark
Heath
Garcia
Hammon
Hill
Dionne
Walker
Damek
Cruz
Brent
Young
Vale
Hall
Geo
Smith
Names That Sound Like Adam
There is no shortage of similarly sounding names for a particular name. In this regard, names that rhyme with Adam are:
Jason
Adan
Benson
Beckham
Abraham
Aram
Bram
Jadan
William
Graham
Gresham
Liam
Tatum
Camden
Sam
Aiden
Allen
Callum
Sibling Names Related to Adam
Several sibling names go with Adam. When selecting such names, you must choose names that help complement all your children’s names. Therefore, some of the sister names for Adam followed by brother names for Adam are:
Sister Names for Adam
Brother Names for Adam
Ivy
Archie
Livia
Andrew
Samantha
Milo
Hazel
Elijah
Clara
Silas
Flora
Jordan
Sophia
Avery
Willow
Mark
Jada
Caleb
Kyra
James
Nicknames for Adam
Nicknames are quirky alternatives to the proper name of an individual. Most of the time, nicknames are given by near and dear ones. Some of these nicknames for Adam are:
Ad
Add
Amie
Ady
Adie
Am
Dede
Dam
Adders
DunDun
Ado
Edam
Dee
Adkins
The name Adam has a symbolic meaning leading to its significance. Although the name’s popularity has dwindled in the last decade, the name still stands in the top 100 baby names. With the future generation focused on naming their children with meaningful names, this name has the possibility of making a comeback soon.
Sources/References
Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Adam Name Popularity in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-25&geo=US&q=Adam
Adam Name Popularity Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-25&q=Adam
Adam Name Interest in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-25&geo=US&q=Adam
Adam Name Interest Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-25&q=Adam Read more
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Charul Verma has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 7 m old child
7 hours ago
Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old he swallowed a earpod bur he is normal he eat as well as drink please suggest???
Charul Verma
Nutritionist
6 hours ago
A. hi mom
mostly it will be out once he passes stool
but better to show to doctor
it can be checked in x ray if required
Rashmi has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 7 m old child
7 hours ago
Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old by mistake he swallowed a earpod but he is normal is eat drink plz suggest??
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
7 hours ago
A. It’s fine it should come out into the poop of your child within 24 to 48 hours a lot of mishaps happened with kids these days but these things since they are not edible they do not get digested which is why they come out into the motion
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
7 hours ago
Q. i am 5 months pregnant n i haven't gone for check up even once still now is it okay or should I go
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
1 hour ago
A. should go. do ultrasound n necessary tests after consulting a specialist. without proper check up we can't advise or help you.. Avoid shirt cuts when it comes to health if mother n baby. ok. better to show to specialist always as they get the correct diagnosis. try to avoid self and extra medication that will only complicate this and create more damage to the child
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. my baby is 2 months old and she has developed a white patch on her face. What should I do?
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. White spots on the body and face could be there sometimes, which maybe because of fungal infection or some conditions like pityriasis alba or some other factors some conditions are aggravated by dry skiniu, show a proper mousturisation is required. Also, maintain a proper hygiene and a proper assessment should be done to rule out any other causative factor
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. my baby passes stool after every feed. Is it normal?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. it's ok normal hai jj. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. how you can
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. question is incomplete please repeat ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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