March typically comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Now, your baby or toddler may not be able to understand this idiom but it is a great reminder to introduce children to lots of animal signs.
Animal imagery is practically everywhere in baby’s life – look at blankets, clothing , books, paintings, and most of all, those stuffed animals As you move through your day, point out these images and say the animal’s name and show the sign. Don’t be afraid to make animal sounds as well when you show the sign. You’ll most likely have your little ones undivided attention!
LION
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Lion: Show the American Sign Language sign for LION to your baby whenever you see an image of a lion. Point to the image to get your baby’s attention and show the sign while saying LION or while roaring!
How to make the sign: A 5-shape with bent fingers moves from your hairline backward on the top of your head.
Tip: Your hand combs through what would be the mane of a lion. |
SHEEP
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Sheep: Show this sign to your baby when you see pictures of sheep. Point to the image to get your baby’s attention and show the sign while saying SHEEP or while making a “baa” sound.
How to make the sign: One hand slides a V hand up the arm while opening and closing, like scissors.
To sign Lamb: Both arms are held together, rocked back and forth (the sign for BABY, below), and followed by your fingers making a cutting motion up the arm (the sign for SHEEP).
Tip: Your hands mimic the action of holding and shearing a sheep. |
BABY
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Baby: Toddlers and older babies love this sign and love to label other babies with it. Show your baby this sign when you see other babies on outings or in books. Adding this sign before an animal sign creates the baby animal name for that animal.
How to make the sign: The sign for baby uses a very natural position for holding and rocking a baby, with your arms held together in front of your body moving side to side.
Tip: The movement of your hands is similar to that of rocking a baby. |
Sara Bingham is the author of The Baby Signing Book and the founder of WeeHands, a baby sign language program with classes across North America. Illustrations used with permission from Robert Rose Publishing from The Baby Signing Book by Sara Bingham, copyright 2007. To learn more about the author and WeeHands visit www.weehands.com
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