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Once upon a time I taught Henry how to sign the words "cup" and "book". I was very pleased. Then I tried to teach him some others and Henry was all "I see what you're doing over there but I think I'd really rather have you read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" for the four thousandth time." Thus my dreams of having a baby fluent in baby signs came crashing down around me.

Over the winter Henry finally became interested in knowing what the name of everything around him was. Lunch took four years because the tray, the plate, the sippy cup, the fork and spoon, and the fruit all had to be labeled over and over (and over) again. I thought it would be a good time to try the baby signs thing again.

I was hanging out at the yarn shop not long ago talking about it with Libby. There was another woman there shopping who said she thought baby sign language was neat, but was worried that it would discourage kids from learning to talk. I totally understand the logic behind that argument, because if you can talk with your hands, why bother learning how to speak? As it turns out, there's research that indicates the opposite is true, that kids who sign learn to speak quicker. My kid is absolutely no indication of this because he doesn't talk, other than a "mama", or a "dada", or the ever popular "YES!!", although maybe if I'd kept up with the signing he'd be talking by now. Hmmmm....

The other day we were practicing some new signs and I think I may have pinpointed a potential speedbump on Henry's "Road to Talking". See if you can figure it out:

me: Henry! Watch me! This is the sign for "eat"! See? Can you do it? You're "eating" crackers!
Henry: Eat!
me; No, no, no. Do the sign for "eat", don't say it. Watch, this is how you do it. See? "Eat"!
Henry: Eat!
me: Watch me! (signs "eat").
Henry: (signs "eat")
me: Hooray! You did it! Good job! You signed "eat"!
Henry: Eat!
me: Wait, did you just say eat? You said "eat"! YOU SAID "EAT"! GOOD BOY!!!

Teaching a kid baby sign language isn't going to hinder their ability to learn how to speak. Me teaching a kid baby sign language will.