Baby Signs Complete Starter Kit: Everything you Need to Get Started Signing with Your Baby by Susan Goodwyn & Linda Acredolo

Based on the Baby Signs sign language program for babies, the Baby Signs Complete Starter Kit has everything parents will need for a successful start to signing fun with their babies. The kit includes: (1) Parent Guide to the Baby Signs Program: (2) An illustrated step-by-step signing guide for parents and caregivers. (3)Parent DVD: A video introduction to Baby Signs and a Video Dictionary with demonstrations of the 100 signs that are most useful to babies. (4) My Favorite Signs DVD for babies that teaches signs through fun animation, playful puppets, and signing babies. (5) Signs at a Glance Flipper that includes 86 signs on a flip-card with magnetic backing. (6) A set of chubby board books with colourful illustrations of the signs. Titles include: My Mealtime Signs My Bedtime Signs My Bath Time Signs My Pets Signs. This is a great starter kit if you're interested in teaching a young child sign language, but you should know that not all of the signs presented are American Sign Language (ASL) signs, but rather simple signs that can be more natural for little ones to imitate and produce. So if you want you child to learn ASL this might be a disappointment, but if you're willing to use a mixture of ASL and non-traditional signs, it's a really wonderful resource to have.

Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk by Linda Acredolo & Susan Goodwyn

If you are interested in teaching your baby to use signs or gestures to communicate as a means of supporting later verbal language development, this is a really nice, low pressure resource. The book provides a great rationale for why using gestures and signs can actually support later verbal language development. It also discusses how to use gestures to alleviate frustration in young children who are not yet talking or for those who are just learning how to use verbal words. What's really nice about this approach to teaching signs and gestures is that the authors encourage parents to use both standard ASL (American Sign Language) signs as well as natural gestures (both conventional and ones they make up themselves). There is a great picture dictionary in the back of the book that will help parents get started on their way to using gestures with their infant, toddler, or preschooler.

Sign With Your Baby by Joseph Garcia

If you are interested in teaching your baby American Sign Language (ASL) basics from the beginning of life, this is a wonderful learning kit to have. The kit comes with a DVD that gives you live demonstrations of how to use the signs, an illustrated book of beginning signs that includes a great section on how to introduce and use signs with your baby, and a laminated quick reference card that will give you about 54 basic signs that can be used during a range of daily activities with your baby. I've used this kit for years and have found it to be very user friendly and helpful to parents that are new to the idea of using signs with their young, preverbal children. Where to Buy: This learning kit can be purchased at major book stores like Barnes & Nobel and Borders, on-line through Amazon, or directly through the company that publishes the resource (http://www.sign2me.com/).

Sign Language for Babies and Toddlers by Christopher Brown

Helping infants and toddlers to find ways of expressing themselves early in life is an important part of actual language development. By using signs and other gestures many parents have found that their young children become less frustrated during the long process of learning to use spoken words. This is a very reader-friendly and practical guide to learning sign language basics that can be used with very young children. The illustrations are simple to follow and the written directions are clear and straightforward. If you were to learn the entire vocabulary offered in the book you would know the ASL alphabet, numbers, nursery rhymes, a large single word vocabulary, and a range of simple two word combinations. An excellent resource for anyone wanting to learn sign language basics.

Pick Me Up: Fun Songs for Learning Signs by Sign 2 Me

If you are interested in teaching your infant or toddler to use sign language this is a fun and worthwhile resource. There are 20 different songs in the song book, which is accompanied by a CD/DVD that you can play on a PC or Mac CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. You can also play it on a regular CD player. The songs are all performed in different styles of music that are appealing to adults and children alike. For example, the song "Please Change My Diapers" is actually performed in the style of Frank Sinatra! You can purchase the song book through a local bookstore or directly from the Sign 2 Me company at http://www.sign2me.com/. The website also offers a great selection of other signing resources. Strengths: The music is engaging and makes learning sign language fun for both parent and child. If you were to actually learn all 20 songs you would have a signed vocabulary of approximately 160 single word signs and 40 simple phrases/word combinations. Weaknesses: Some families have stated that they don't like the drawings of the signs that accompany the songs, but there are great live demonstrations on the accompanying CD/DVD.