Words by the Handful offers baby sign language classes in Houston for people living in the greater Houston area. We teach parents, caretakers and babies how to communicate with each other using American Sign Language at The Motherhood Center – our home for the past four years.

You’ve heard about baby sign language and want to sign with your child, but you don’t know where to start. Mom (or Dad, grandparent, nanny…) and Baby sign language classes offer instruction and explanation, while at the same time providing some social time for the little ones. It’s a good opportunity for babies and toddlers to interact with their age-mates. Just as important – it gives parents a chance to visit with other adults who are in the same baby-boat.

Words by the Handful baby sign language classes are structured to introduce signing as a concept, and build up the kind of good working vocabulary a baby or toddler will need. Things that a baby is likely to want or need are the primary focus. No surprise, then, that we start with the basics like milk, more, all done, mama, daddy, sleep and bath. There are many other words that we focus on – like ouch/hurt, help, and even more parent-centered words like please and thank you.

We love to see the amazement of misty-eyed mothers when their baby “gets it” and begins to communicate with them even though they cannot yet speak. These classes have the power to transform the early one-way parent-to-baby talk into a rich two-way dialog. Babies have lots on their minds, and signs give them a way to share that with their moms and dads before they can form words.

Words by the Handful baby sign language classes in Houston share a feature with baby sign language classes anywhere: they are only as successful as the commitment of the parent to doing the signs at home. With that in mind, the classes are designed to teach you the signs, and to give you ways of using them once you get home, including visual and musical cues and reminders.

We make signing easy for you to learn, to remember, so you can give your child a simple tool to use until your child can talk.  Moms of signing babies will tell you how remarkable it is when a child can sign and get their point across. The frustration so typical of the pre-verbal period of a child is dramatically reduced when families use baby sign language.

Come give it a try!

Baby Sign Language Classes in Houston

I opened the gift not knowing what to expect. It was a small box – light as a feather. What I found inside is more precious than gold.

Three words:

I Love You.

From my mother.

Not written on fancy paper, not recorded on a special talking card that I could hear, but in her own hand. Literally. A sign.

Then I remembered she’d called me a week or so earlier asking me how to make the sign for “I Love You” with one hand. I explained it to her and then she quickly got off the phone, saying she was off to an art class on wire sculpture.

I picked up the most delicate wire sculpture of my mother’s hand making the sign for “I Love You”. For me. Forever.

How awesome is that? Best gift ever!

The next day at preschool, there it was again! This time it was a boisterous kindergartener. He jostled his way into class, but at the last minute, turned and called to his mom. When she looked over, he flashed her the “I Love You” sign. Just a quick, quiet message between the two of them. As they say: priceless!

Later, I caught his 4 year-old brother sharing the sign with his mom. That’s one lucky mom!

Here how you do it: The American Sign Language (ASL) sign for “I Love You”:

Make a fist, then extend your thumb, your index finger, and your pinkie finger. It’s called the “ILY” sign: a combination of the ASL manual alphabet letters “I,” “L,” and “Y.”

Want the other version?

Point at yourself.: I

Cross your arms and put closed fists against your chest: LOVE

Point at the person you’re talking to: YOU

Can a baby or toddler do this sign? In their own way – yes. And as their fine motor skills improve, you’ll see them work to get those little fingers to cooperate even more.

I LOVE YOU.

You can’t say it enough, and it’s something we never tire of hearing.

Spread the love around – - say it and sign it often!

(And thank you, Mama! I love you, too!)

Parents often ask me when they should start signing with their babies. Answer: Anytime! A baby’s brain develops sufficient memory to begin assimilating signs at about six months, so I suggest that as the youngest age for babies starting my classes.

The key to successful signing is the regular use and repetition of the signs along with the spoken words by as many adults as possible in the baby’s circle. As a parent, you can start using signs with your children at any time. They’ll join your signing when they are able. Children who are not yet speaking, and even children beginning to speak, can enjoy and benefit from signing.

So wherever you are in your timing, start now!

… and when do you stop signing? Typically, when children begin to speak, they rely less and less on signs, and eventually drop them in favor of speaking. But again, this depends on the use of signs by those around them. If you, as a parent or grandparent, continue to use the signs consistently, there is a stronger likelihood that your child will retain and continue to use signs.

American Sign Language is a true language. If your child is signing before talking, they’re already bilingual. Keeping up with signing gives your child an automatic second language. There are other reasons to keep up your signing, too. Signing provides your child with an additional boost in pre-reading capacity. Having a visual sign associated with a spoken word, and those associated with an understanding of the meaning of the word or concept, gives your child another connection to the word as reading skills are built.

As you and your child expand your vocabulary, consider adding the manual alphabet to your repertoire. Just as babies and toddlers can sign before they can speak, young children can signs their ABC’s to spell before they develop the fine motor skills required for successful writing.

I’ve designed my Active Alphabet class for the 2 – 5 year old set. I teach the manual alphabet, reinforce written letter recognition and pronunciation, all in a dynamic and fun setting. The classes are very active, with music, visuals, role playing, and lots of movement that’s just right for this age group. It’s a full body experience! We’re starting a new summer session of Active Alphabet at The Motherhood Center on July 15. Click here to learn more. It’s a great, cool indoor summer experience for your little ones!

Have you seen the adorable YouTube video of the chattering twins? They’ve got lots of adults watching…and chattering about whether or not they are communicating or just mimicking, what they might be “saying” to each other. One of the experts who has weighed in posits that they are ‘acting like’ they are talking as they approach the ability to talk.

I’ve had lots of experience with children who use signs (American Sign Language) before they can speak, and I have a different take on this. I think these two guys are reliving a memory. Something they’ve done or seen that had a big impression on them. Keep in mind, these guys are still ‘meeting’ the world, and there are some pretty impressive things in the world. Everything from animals, structures, colors, and noises, to oddities like hats and socks – all of which can be really funny and fascinating – even if you aren’t a toddler.

Twin-speak is a known phenomenon, and it has been the subject of a number of studies. I think it’s a huge advantage for non-signing babies of that age to have someone to share and interact with. Just like these guys are doing. With single babies, signs helps them interact with their parents, as well as other signing babies. They can ‘talk’ through their signs about things that they find fascinating, scary, and, yes, funny! And sometimes they really want to talk about experiences from weeks or even months ago.

One of the prominent bloggers I met last year at the Mom 2.0 conference told me her signing story. She had twins, and had decided that trying to take on, learn, and teach signing to her babies was just one thing she didn’t have time or energy for. She decided not to try signing with them. And then one day as she was watching them, she realized that they had developed their own nonverbal communication. They were successfully communicating, and she was left out. So she started teaching them signs that she could enjoy with them.

Wouldn’t you like to know what the little boys in this video saying? I would. These two guys are having a great time. Can’t you tell? Of course you can! There are plenty of non-verbal cues going on here for easy confirmation. I want to have as much fun as they’re having, but without some interpretation, I know I’m really missing the punch line. I wish they were throwing in some signs so we could have a hint!

One of the wonderful perks of teaching sign language to moms and their babies is hearing their stories. Here’s one I heard recently.

A mom came up to me after class with her precious nearly-eight-month old daughter on her hip. “I just have to tell you,” she said, “the sign for OUCH is a miracle!” I smiled and asked for details.

“My daughter is teething, and sometimes it bothers her so much she cries. So the other day it happened, and I made the sign for OUCH while I asked if she were hurting. She looked at me and the sign. Like that, she stopped crying! It was as if just knowing that I understood her, and acknowledged her pain, made all the difference.

And then a few days later, she got a fistful of my hair and was giving it a good tug. I said and signed OUCH to her, and she immediately let go. She made the connection!”

New classes are starting up this week, and I can’t wait to give more moms the signs they need to discover their own little ‘miracles.’

Here’s the sign for ouch:



Please. Thank you.

Important words. Simple words. So simple you’d think learning to say and use them would be easy. Not so, it turns out. Just ask any parent: “How many times do you have to remind your child to say please and thank you?” The answer: “Millions.” ….and patience can wear thin…..

Signs can be a big help.

Start early. Most of the signs I encourage parents to teach their babies and toddlers are words the child will want or need to use. But I always include “please” and “thank you.” Believe it or not, babies can learn this conversational pattern even before they speak. It’s pretty amazing to see a mom coaching “say please” or “say thank you”, and watch a child who doesn’t have any words respond with the correct sign. And when they realize how powerful these words are, babies learn to use them without prompts. Maybe not every time, but certainly when they really want something. (Remember: until your child begins to speak, always say the words when you use the sign to reinforce the verbal cues.)

Warning – - It is very hard to say ‘no’ to a precious little child who is spontaneously signing “please”…. But no one is perfect, and even the most adorable and well-behaved toddler is likely to need a reminder from time to time.

“Baby sneezes, Mommy pleases….” Carly Simon’s song, Coming Around Again, captures the never-ending job of moms in two words! Moms and dads try all sorts of things. My mom’s prompt was: “What’s the magic word?”

Here’s another idea – and another use for signs well beyond early childhood:

Use your signs – even after your children are speaking (this can be useful for many years!). Instead of always prompting your kids out loud, keep signing. Just sign “please” and “thank you” until you hear – or see – it come back to you. I find that giving children a choice of saying or signing their please/thank yous gives them a sense of autonomy in the face of requirements. In a multilingual environment, you’ve got even more choices of how to be polite.

Save your voice without compromising your principles.

Give it a try!

Please…..

Thank you….

And let me know how it works for you!

A fellow author recently mused on Facebook that she was considering going ‘off the net’ completely – for one month…. and that she was a little anxious about it.

In this day of instant communication, a month seems like a very long time to be out of contact. What could happen while you’re not paying attention? Will you miss out on something? THE big thing?

In college, I remember friends who would come unglued if they missed a day of their favorite soap opera. Really? I mean you can watch some of those once a month and not miss anything. But they needed to be plugged in and keep up.

…And then I spent three days ‘off the net.’ Not planned… it just sort of happened that way. I wasn’t anxious about it at all.

In fact, I realized I was much less anxious when I wasn’t try to check 4 email accounts, a website, my personal Facebook page and two Facebook business pages I manage, and keep up with a number of blogs I follow (not to mention the frequent wanderings-off to related posts and articles along the way). I found that I had more time to just think, muse, ponder.

And then I remembered:  this is what summer is for (at least in my mind).

A time to unwind, unplug, de-stress (and boy do I need that!). Stop and smell the roses, recharge, rejuvenate, get energized about things that really matter. Breathe. Relax.

So while I probably won’t be taking a month off any time soon, I have resolved to find at least a little time for “summering” every day, and lots more every chance I get.

I wish you all a Happy Summer!

What’s the best thing about teaching sign language (or anything!) to babies and small children? Learning from them. Really. I’m always amazed and thrilled by the way their little brains are working.

Teaching babies constantly reminds me of the many personal dimensions of learning. We all learn differently.

In my Active Alphabet classes, we explore each letter of the alphabet in a full-body learning environment filled with signs. It’s not a performance class, and there is no right or wrong way to do this. That’s a good thing when you’re dealing with 2- to 5-year olds!

That said, moms and dads always hope their kids will ‘get it’ and do things the ‘right way.’ (Congratulations if somehow you don’t ever stress about your child’s ability to and speed of learning!)

Don’t worry, I tell them. They ARE getting it – in their own way.

Recently, one precious little boy in my class spent the first two sessions “seemingly” not participating at all. His mother was so worried, and kept trying to engage him “correctly” in class activities. I could tell he was interested, and paying attention, even if he wasn’t not diving in head first.

But that’s the trick about learning. We all do it in our own way. Some children learn by observing. By learning it in their heads first. By being cautious. By taking it all in before they actually do it.

Over the next couple of weeks, I could see his fingers twitching and trying to make the signs for the letters of the alphabet as we went along. Never holding them up, just trying it out, quietly, on his own with his hands half-hidden by his sides.

A few more classes, and he’s now holding up a few letter signs to show that he’s got them. He chimes in with interactions on things he never seemed to pay attention to. He’s joining in, at his own pace, when he’s ready. And he’s having fun.

So whether a child dives in head first or just dips a toe in, they’re experiencing and learning in the way that works best for them. It’s how they are wired.

Understanding and respecting each child’s way of learning is another one of a parents’ most important (and hardest!) jobs.

I love this story from one of the moms in my Words by the Handful Baby Sign Language class.

Mom was at home feeding her 13 month old son. She offered him something that he wasn’t anxious to accept. Her attempts to convince him to try it escalated his refusals, and he was soon flailing and screaming.

And then he made a sign!

Dad was nearby and asked Mom “What did he just sign?!”

Mom, wide-eyed, translated: “He just told me to STOP!”

She did. The fussing stopped. It was all over.

Parents often ask me how to identify key ‘teaching’ moments for teaching signs to their kids. Well, this was one. In that moment, Mom reinforced in the strongest way that using signs as communication gets results.

Cause and effect. Very powerful stuff.

But what about the offending food? Well, ‘they’ say it takes many tries and weeks or months to get children to try and/or accept a new food.

This one will have its day….. but not just yet.

Share your favorite teaching moments – can’t wait to read them!

I lost my voice recently. Nothing dramatic, just run of the mill laryngitis. My friends had a great time teasing me: “That’s the first time we’ve ever heard YOU quiet!” OK, you might say I’m rather verbally oriented. I’ve usually got something to say. And since languages are my thing, I can usually say that something in one of a few languages.

I also teach American Sign Language to moms and their tiny babies and toddlers. Signs are an amazing tool that pre-verbal babies can use to communicate quite well. Parents, caretakers and preschools are catching on to this still relatively new phenomenon. The fact is that children with normal hearing who are not yet physically able to speak can tell you all kinds of things, if you give them the words – the signs – to do so. Sign language for babies. Baby sign language.

So finding myself unable to even squeak a sound was a bit of a challenge. One well-meaning friend said, “No problem – you know sign language! Just sign it!” To humor her, I signed something very simple. The blank expression that followed told me she’d realized her suggestion had an important shortcoming. She doesn’t know sign language. Not one sign.

And there it was. The ‘aha’ moment about communication. It requires not only a speaker, someone conveying information, but it also requires a listener, a receiver, someone who can understand it. It’s not new, it’s not earth-shattering, it’s very basic.

It seems all so easy, until there is a breakdown in communications, or an inability to communicate. And then we realize how important it is. Communication is connectedness, and connectedness is one of those things we humans desperately need.

So welcome to Words by the Handful, a blog about communication, babies, signing, life, humor, and a few surprises along the way. A few words at a time – just a handful. Words by the Handful.