How to Get Started Learning

At this point, you have probably decided if you are or are not going to teach your child sign language. If you have chosen to do so you are probably thinking, “okay, this is all great information but how do I start?” 
Like I said in my last post, there are many resources to utilize while learning sign and how you choose to start is completely up to you.
If making the commitment to a class will encourage you to attend and learn than I highly suggest finding a local instructor and starting from there. This is a great resource to find a local Signing Time Insructor.
If that one hour a week doe not seem feasible just yet, start with watching the DVDs or the television program so that you and your child can see how much fun and how engaging they are to watch and learn to sign with. 
Again, if the time commitment to watch a show doe not fit in your schedule, start with a set of flash cards or an app on your phone. Keep the flash cards with you in the diaper bag so no matter where or when you end up getting stuck somewhere you can review a couple of signs with your child. 
Once you have chosen what format you want to use to learn sign language, just start with a sign or two until you know it well enough to recall it easily from memory. You do not have to wait to learn more signs until your child is signing the ones you have started with. Just continue to learn new signs and use them in conversation with your child consistently and they will start to use them when they know it and are comfortable with it. 
The day my daughter signed back “milk” when she was thirsty and wanted more to drink, my husband and I basically danced around! We were so excited to see that it was actually working and she was learning the signs. Once she learned one sign, it seemed she learned them faster than ever. By her first birthday she was signing about 10 signs and they were all easy words that applied to her daily life that we could easily use in daily conversation so she had plenty of time to learn them. 

So relax and learn a couple right now! Try the sign and say the word together so that you can associate one with the other and can engrain it in your mind with the physical movement of the sign.