One fear about the program was that it would stunt the babies' verbal skills. If anything, the opposite seems to have happened, says Ms. Whaley. We introduce the signs to them naturally, as part of our everyday life in the classroom. We always speak the words as we sign, so the children learn both. At lunch time, for example, we'll ask them if they're ready by asking them if they want to eat and using the sign for eat.
Girls appear to learn, or use sign language more easily.
Ms. Whaley thinks children of six or seven months, who are able to sit up on their own, will learn basic signs. Imagine a baby being able to communicate why he or she is crying.