"My Smart Hands" Classes Help Baby Communicate

By Shelley Lawson, My Smart Hands instructor
Imagine…communicating with your baby before he or she can even speak, and/or being able to communicate more effectively with your toddler. Now you can! My name is Shelley, and I am so excited to be able to be teaching baby sign language classes in the Huntsville area! I am licensed through the My Smart Hands program, a 100% ASL baby sign language program. My Smart Hands is the first baby signing program to receive the Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) award of excellence.

Baby sign language reduces frustration, accelerates verbal development and strengthens cognitive skills. It also enhances child-parent bonding through time spent teaching signs to your baby. Research shows that preverbal infants can communicate through the use of sign language long before they can verbalize their needs.

In a playful, educational and language-rich environment, caregivers and children will build their American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary through instruction, interactive games and songs. You will learn recommended first signs; we will discuss the benefits of using ASL with infants and demonstrate easy techniques for successfully integrating signs into everyday life. Some of the ASL vocabulary covered for this age group includes: everyday words, family, food, animals, emotions, opposites, bed time and play signs. All of our classes include a full color MSH™ curriculum book with a CD of the songs we teach. The books have pictures of the signs learned along with descriptions for easy reference long after the class is over! Currently, I am offering the Level 1 class on Sundays from October 5th to November 23rd. The classes will be held from 3-4 at A Nurturing Moment. Cost is $150 (this includes the cost of the curriculum book). Visit mysmarthandswithshelley.com for more information, or email me at shelley@mysmarthands.com. Please register by September 16. Want proof that baby sign language can work? Check out this video of My Smart Hands founder, Laura Berg, and her daughter Fireese: