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Her name's Gabby, but she's learning to speak with hands for grandparents. Gabby Krpata possesses quite an extensive vocabulary for a 15-month-old.
She can say mama, dada, eat, more, please, hat and brush.
Gabby isn't yet able to speak the words, but uses her hands instead. Her parents have been teaching her sign language for babies.
Gabby's father, Dan, is fluent in sign language. Both of Dan's parents are deaf, and the family wants Gabby and her older brother to be able to communicate with them.
"We try to teach them so when Grandma and Grandpa come by, they get excited," said mom Lisa Krpata, of Queen Creek.
Lisa and Gabby took the six-week "Sign, Say and Play" class offered by the Baby Signs Institute.
Baby sign language is not much different from the sign language adults use.
"It gives the child a means of communication before the child says words," said Baby Signs Institute instructor Chris Jarko. "It's a form of American Sign Language. Just as we teach a foreign language in school we should also teach our children ASL."
ASL is considered the third or fourth most common language in the nation. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 20 million Americans are deaf or hearing impaired.
Experts like Jarko say baby sign language can help reduce frustration between parent and child before the child can say what he wants.
Jarko, 32, of Gilbert, developed an interest in baby sign language as a result of her work as a child development specialist at Banner Desert Medical Center's children's unit in Mesa and being the mother of a 1-year-old son.
She recommended parents like Eric and Suzanne Ibsen try baby sign language with son Benjamin, who was prematurely born. The Ibsens have found it has made it easier to communicate with Benjamin, a normally developing and rambunctious 9-month-old.
"The food-related signs will be most helpful," Suzanne said.
Typical first signs for children are more, eat, and milk, Jarko said.
Jarko holds classes in the East Valley, including "Sign, Say and Play," and onetime parent workshops.
"It does take repetition and dedication on the parents' part," Jarko said.
Jarko recommends parents start modeling signs when their child is 6 months old.
Jenny Hodges, Baby Signs district manager, listed benefits to teaching a child basic signs. "Reducing frustration, building trust, strengthening the parent-infant bond and jump-starting language development."
Learning sign language does not delay a child's ability to talk. Hodges said.
"Actually, signing encourages babies to communicate," she said. "Babies are surrounded by language and when their tongues are ready, they will talk."
By Kirsten Sorensony
She can say mama, dada, eat, more, please, hat and brush.
Gabby isn't yet able to speak the words, but uses her hands instead. Her parents have been teaching her sign language for babies.
Gabby's father, Dan, is fluent in sign language. Both of Dan's parents are deaf, and the family wants Gabby and her older brother to be able to communicate with them.
"We try to teach them so when Grandma and Grandpa come by, they get excited," said mom Lisa Krpata, of Queen Creek.
Lisa and Gabby took the six-week "Sign, Say and Play" class offered by the Baby Signs Institute.
Baby sign language is not much different from the sign language adults use.
"It gives the child a means of communication before the child says words," said Baby Signs Institute instructor Chris Jarko. "It's a form of American Sign Language. Just as we teach a foreign language in school we should also teach our children ASL."
ASL is considered the third or fourth most common language in the nation. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 20 million Americans are deaf or hearing impaired.
Experts like Jarko say baby sign language can help reduce frustration between parent and child before the child can say what he wants.
Jarko, 32, of Gilbert, developed an interest in baby sign language as a result of her work as a child development specialist at Banner Desert Medical Center's children's unit in Mesa and being the mother of a 1-year-old son.
She recommended parents like Eric and Suzanne Ibsen try baby sign language with son Benjamin, who was prematurely born. The Ibsens have found it has made it easier to communicate with Benjamin, a normally developing and rambunctious 9-month-old.
"The food-related signs will be most helpful," Suzanne said.
Typical first signs for children are more, eat, and milk, Jarko said.
Jarko holds classes in the East Valley, including "Sign, Say and Play," and onetime parent workshops.
"It does take repetition and dedication on the parents' part," Jarko said.
Jarko recommends parents start modeling signs when their child is 6 months old.
Jenny Hodges, Baby Signs district manager, listed benefits to teaching a child basic signs. "Reducing frustration, building trust, strengthening the parent-infant bond and jump-starting language development."
Learning sign language does not delay a child's ability to talk. Hodges said.
"Actually, signing encourages babies to communicate," she said. "Babies are surrounded by language and when their tongues are ready, they will talk."
By Kirsten Sorensony
