How signing helps with manners

In “Who’s Baby Signing in Hollywood?”, we featured fashionista Kimora Lee Simmons as one of many celebrity parents who teach their babies to sign. While her son Kenzo was barely a toddler, she used baby signing as a means to develop his manners early: “It helps with communication so you don’t have like screaming crazy kids,” she said in an interview.

“Dear Abby” would probably agree. In a fast-paced age of road rage, text-messaging and overall decline in manners, politeness is one of the most important values you can instill at a very young age – even before your baby begins speaking! . Here are some fundamentally polite signs, per Dr. Joseph Garcia’s “Sign with Your Baby” glossary:

PLEASE: This sign can be widely used, such as when asking for milk or cookies

THANK YOU: Upon receipt of desired objects, teach baby this sign

SHARE: Perfect for use in a day care or a play date

SORRY: Appropriate for a variety of “oops” situations

HELP: Using this sign will encourage children to be generous by helping others