For example, St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, which delivers about 6,800 newborns per year — more babies than any other hospital or birthing center in the state — in the spring will add "Kindersigns 101" to its parent-education program, which already includes courses in au courant topics such as breastfeeding and infant massage.

And Baby Einstein, the influ-ential maker of educational toys for babies, has introduced a "Baby Wordsworth" DVD, featuring hearing-impaired actress Marlee Matlin, designed to teach 25 ASL signs to babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Movie popularized sign language

The use of ASL for hearing babies really got a boost in December 2004, with the release of "Meet The Fockers." The Ben Stiller movie depicts toddler twins using sign language to comedic effect. Soon after the movie's release, "Will & Grace" star Debra Messing announced she was teaching her baby to sign. More celebrities, and lots of ordinary moms and dads, followed suit and discovered they could communicate with their little ones long before the babies could actually speak.

"It's really amazing when they do respond and you realize they've been here all the time," said Christine Jones, an Ocean County-based mom who is a sign-language instructor for babies, a postpartum doula (or adviser) and a parenting advocate.

Jones began using signs with her daughter, Aisling, at 4 months old. By the time Aisling was 7 months old, she was signing back. Now, at 3 years old, Aisling knows about 200 signs. Ask her for her favorite sign and Aisling will hold her fist up to her chin and move it in small circles around her mouth, while sticking out her tongue — the sign for ice cream.

"Sign language has benefits for hearing children even after they learn how to speak," Jones said. "Aisling and I will sometimes use ASL as our private language, like if she wants to ask me a question in front of other people. For older kids, it also helps with manners and with developing empathy and validating their own feelings. It's never too late to learn the signs — even at a year and a half is a good time to start."

Speaking won't be delayed

A common misconception is that a baby who learns to sign will get "lazy" and won't bother learning to speak until much later. Research by Sign2Me, a Seattle-based company that promotes the use of ASL for hearing children, suggests the opposite: The signs help to reinforce the meaning of the spoken word.

"Knowing ASL will not prevent your baby from speaking," Jones said, adding with a laugh, "as any parent of a babbling toddler can tell you. As for when to start signing, the thinking used to be that you needn't start 'til 7 months or so, when the baby could begin to sign back. But deaf parents sign to their babies from birth, and hearing parents speak to their babies from birth, so it makes more sense to both sign and speak to your baby as soon and as often as possible."

The motor skills needed to make a sign are less complex than those needed to produce speech, which is why sign language is helpful to a pre-verbal child. Jones said the most helpful signs she taught Aisling were those dealing with emotions and feelings — sad, sleepy, hungry, hurt.

"It frustrates toddlers when they can't make you understand how they feel, and that leads to crying and tantrums," Jones said. "If they can sign to you what they're feeling, that gives them a better feeling of control."

Jones learned ASL through Sign2Me, and she has led presentations on ASL for La Leche League and other organizations. She also is involved in a play group with parents in Monmouth and Ocean counties who get together to sign, and she started an online group through yahoo.com for parents who are learning to sign with their babies.

"Anyone can learn basic signs — parents don't have to be teachers to do it," Jones said. "You don't need lots of videos, books or flash cards, though there are some good ones out there if you do want them as tools."

Jones recommended Joseph Garcia's "Sign With Your Baby," published by Sign2Me; the "Baby's First Signs" series by Kim Votry and Curt Waller, and "Teach Your Tot to Sign," by Stacy A. Thompson, both published by Gallaudet University Press, as well as the Sign2Me and Signing Time series of videos.

Not Just Music, with locations in Wall, Toms River and Point Pleasant, offers 10-week "Sing and Sign" classes for babies and also integrates ASL into its "Music Together" programs.

Lynda Vinsko of Brick enrolled in a "Sing and Sign" class at Not Just Music in Wall this fall. Her daughter Allison was 8 months old at the end of the 10-week course. Baby Allison was among the youngest pupils, and spent much of the class crawling around and observing, but her mom hoped that the lessons would sink in over time.

"It's hard when you know they want to tell you something and they just can't," said Lynda Vinsko of Brick.

"Sing and Sign" introduces babies and toddlers to basic signs through games and songs. based on the curriculum of Sign2Me, the Seattle-based company founded by Joseph Garcia, an ASL interpreter. Garcia began marketing Sign2Me products in 1999.

Denise Tiedemann of Spotswood is a teacher at Not Just Music, and her role in "Sing and Sign" is to be as engaging as possible. Toddlers can be a tough audience — they make it quite clear when they're bored — so Tiedemann has become adept at making funny faces and speaking in cheerful, soothing tones.

"I put on my scarf when it's cold outside, when it's cold outside," Tiedemann sang, wrapping a scarf around her neck and making the sign for "cold" — hunched shoulders, clenched fists shivering — as she sang.

ASL has "logic and simplicity"

The beauty of American Sign Language is in its logic and simplicity. Some signs are just what you'd think they would be. To make the sign for "baby," a popular choice among babies themselves, you hold your arms in front of you as if you're cradling a baby, and then rock your arms side to side.

"Eat" and "more" are two popular signs for beginners. "Eat" involves holding your hand up to your mouth, all fingertips touching as if you're holding an invisible cookie. To sign "more," hold your hands in front of you with the fingers of one hand pointing to the fingers on the other hand, and move the hands toward each other.

Some programs use modified ASL gestures, or invent new ones entirely, in an effort to make signing easier for babies. Proponents of ASL do not recommend this approach, citing the consistency of ASL as a chief benefit. Also, there is the risk that a made-up sign could be mistaken for an incorrect or even offensive equivalent in ASL.

"American Sign Language already exists and it works, so why make up something else for babies?" Jones said. "Plus, learning ASL can be a skill they can use all their lives."

At Not Just Music, pupils in a "Sing and Sign" class typically are between 8 months and 2 years old.

"The main reason to do this is to help them communicate," Tiedemann said. "So it's good to start young and have them absorb what they can, gradually."

Tracy Marucci of Red Bank enrolled in "Sing and Sign" with her 18-month-old daughter, Madelyn, who was quick to make the sign for applause — hands raised, fingers splayed, hands jiggling back and forth — at the end of each song.

Alexander Flaum, 20 months, stuck close to the side of his mom, Jessica of Neptune City, but the toddler watched Tiedemann's every move intently.

Teachers at Not Just Music say such observation is key to learning. They recommend parents be consistent. Always use the sign when you say the word to your child. For maximum impact, parents should make the sign close to their face and make eye contact with the child.

Just as children come up with all sorts of cute mispronunciations of words, they might also be imprecise with their signs. Tiedemann advised parents to encourage any progress, even if a toddler doesn't get the sign exactly right.

"Any degree of success is great," she said. "It's a cumulative process, like all learning."

By Kelly-Jane Cotter
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