They Know What You Are Saying!

I was walking my dog when a neighbor came by with her two young boys on a walk.  The two year old was driving his tricycle.  The other boy has just turned one year old.  The mother was pushing him in a little car.  The youngest boy waved at me and then turned to his mother and bumped his hands together. He was telling his mother that he wanted "more," presumably more of his "car ride."  The sign can be seen in the fourth link listed below.

The mother told me that the youngest boy knew several signs for simple things like "more," "finished," "hungry," "sleepy," "love," and "play." I had heard of this before and told her what that meant. The child, in correctly using the sign language, was demonstrating that he understood.  This also meant that he understood what his parents were saying and that he was listening.  I told her what she already knew; that children understand and are able to communicate long before they are able to speak.

Many people talk, and even argue, in front of "the baby," never realizing that the baby is listening.  How wonderful it is if what the baby hears is talk of Jesus and what the baby sees is two righteous and loving parents.

The baby sign language is inspired by the American Sign Language for the Deaf.
Links about infant sign language:

http://www.babysignlanguage.com/

http://www.babysignlanguage.com/dictionary/first-signs/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/baby-sign-language/AN02127

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/baby-sign-language-words-to-know

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_sign_language

http://www.parents.com/baby/development/sign-language/

http://lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/b/baby.htm
http://www.signbabies.com/
http://www.google.com/search?q=infant+sign+language&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vZ2KUaeNMIOm8QSrxYGgBw&sqi=2&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=1202&bih=812