Signing on this babyspeak

Darla Briggs, Baby Sign Language teacher in Dubai, who also teaches pre-natal yoga

Many parents underestimate their babies' intelligence and hold off on communication until they can actually start speaking words.

Yet, without even realising it, they teach their infants to wave "bye bye" and nod "yes".

Our children want to communicate with us. They just do not have the means.

Their articulators (mouth, tongue, teeth, lips) are not yet developed in order to create speech, but their manual dexterity is quickly maturing.

They want to express thoughts, observations and needs. They just do not know how to do it and this can be very frustrating for them.

Baby Sign Language gives them the means to engage in conversation with us and encourages early communication.

Before I had a child I did a lot of research on babies, their developmental stages and how language develops. I began to understand that IQ is not just important on its own.

It does not only matter how smart you are but how you can connect with others. How you can show empathy, graciousness and interact in different social situations – that is the emotional quotient.

I wanted to interact and give my baby a lot of mental, emotional and physical stimulation to help us bond.

So I took up Baby Sign Language classes in Vancouver, Canada. The classes were always full there. No matter where you went in Vancouver you could see mothers communicating with their babies through signs.

At the moment there is no certification programme that you are required to complete. If you know the American Sign Language (ASL) and the research behind signing with babies you can design a programme.

Or you can use books and programmes designed by other teachers or researchers such as Dr. Joseph Garcia, Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn.

I hold Baby Sign Language classes ...

... at the Pavilion at Jumeirah Beach Hotel on Mondays at noon for infants aged 0-8 months and 1 pm for those between 9 and 18 months.

Parents can learn the signs and when their baby is about six months old, they can begin to sign to him. Infants learn with their parents through signs and songs which they practise at home through repetition and association.

They introduce the simple hand movements during certain daily activities. Soon, their baby will associate that hand movement with the situation taking place (like the sign for "eat" at or right before mealtime).

As their baby's manual dexterity develops and they begin experimenting with their own hands, they will understand they can replicate signs and could start producing signs at about 10 months (this varies).

Many people have come forward to learn the Baby Sign Language. However, I am a little disappointed because I do not see UAE nationals with their babies come to the classes.

We had a waiting list for classes in Canada so it is only a matter of time before these classes take ground here.

People in daycare centres can also try to implement signs into their activities because it helps with sharing, mealtime and manners.

It is a way for the children to communicate effectively with one another without screaming, grabbing or throwing tantrums.

I try to stick to ASL as much as possible. If a parent comes to my class he/she can expect to know over 100 signs within eight classes (weeks).

I also keep up to date with any research so I can pass it on to the parents and encourage them to teach their families and other caregivers as well. It builds up trust when a child knows the person caring for them understands him.

My mother always wished ...

... my children would behave like I did when I was a child. I would never take "no" for an answer. My daughter, Devina Lotus, who is 13 months old, is just like me – very determined, active and always smiling.

In life, I think it is very important to be yourself, truly authentic. Not to try to conform just to feel accepted or be affected by your surroundings.

Be like the lotus flower. It can grow in the muddy waters but still emerges unsoiled and beautiful. That is why I gave my daughter the middle name Lotus, so she can contemplate the meaning and draw strength from it.

Like most babies, Devina watches everything I do and wants to imitate what she observes. I have become more aware of what I eat and speak because she will copy my habits.

She establishes direct eye contact to make sure she has my attention, so I take advantage of all the ways I can to interact with her, whether it be through signing, songs, books, pictures, or toys.

At home we use the sign language with each other and with other family members if we need to communicate from a distance instead of raising our voices. I talk to parents about these things in class so they can also try it at home.

Devina has just started using ...

... a couple of signs such as the sign for milk, dog and toilet. However, sometimes she does them against my body (instead of her own).

For this reason, I have learnt you may start to show your baby how to make signs by guiding its hands (if it allows).

You may also modify some signs to make it easier for your baby to do with its tiny hands.

You do not need to be rigid, there is no right or wrong sign. The most important thing is to communicate, and as long as you understand each other you are making progress.

It is also important to acknowledge and reinforce by responding to your child's communication once it signs back to you.

My mentor Surindar, from India, introduced me to kundalini yoga. In fact, I finished the course while pregnant with Devina.

I wanted to make sure when I became a mother I had a solid foundation so that whenever my baby had challenges in life she will look within herself and find the strength and discipline instead of looking outside for answers.

Numerology (using your date and time of birth) is used to determine a name that is suited for you.

When I am teaching kundalini yoga I use the name Shiv Antar Kaur, which means the princess whose essence eliminates negativity and generates new growth.

When you hear your name it is a reminder to fulfil your life's destiny or purpose. I am a very positive person and really aim to uplift others so I found the name really suited me.

I am passionate about teaching pre-natal yoga in particular because I find there is so much fear in today's society surrounding childbirth.

Women are not encouraged to trust that their bodies know how to birth a baby naturally. Or they do not have confidence in parenting. Many think they have to read books and look outside themselves to know how to parent.

I teach women breathing techniques (pranayam) to help their health and vitality, feeling of connectedness and to control their moods.

We do exercises (asanas) to strengthen and stretch and work on our chakras (energy centres). It is a great atmosphere to reconnect, tone up, and establish bonding with your baby and other mums.