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Chatty Hands is an educational experience of workshops and classes geared toward parents, families and caregivers of hearing preverbal children to learn and incorporate the use of basic American Sign Language (ASL) into their daily lives. 

We believe that all children, regardless of age or ability, deserve to be heard.  For children who cannot yet communicate through the use of speech, non-verbal communication is a natural and instinctual way to convey their needs, thoughts and feelings.  

It has been documented that almost 90% of the way humans communicate is through non-verbal communication; facial expression, hand gestures, and body language.  Using sign language is simply an organized form of non-verbal communication that is recognized by sign language users all over the United States. 

Did you know that babies are capable of using sign language to communicate between the ages of 6-9 months?   They can sign to you long before they can speak!   Did you also know that a 7-8 month old baby is capable of having a 20 word signing vocabulary?  Imagine communicating and bonding with your baby in such a natural way!   Now your baby no longer needs to cry to tell you something.   This significantly reduces stress and frustration between parent and baby.   What a gift!

Many people ask when is the appropriate age to start using sign language with their baby.  Or many people think that it is best to wait until the baby is 6 months old, since that is the age the baby could start to produce signs.   For many reasons, we believe parents can start exposing baby to sign language at birth.   One of those reasons is discipline.   Parents need to get into the habit of signing while they are talking to their babies.   This way, when baby is wide eyed and paying attention, it will come naturally to the parent to sign while they speak.   Another reason is exposure.   We expose baby to speech immediately, and they become familiar with the sound of our voice.   In the same way, if we expose baby to sign language immediately, baby will become familiar with our non-verbal communication and begin to understand its meanings.  So start early and be consistent.  You will be amazed at how your baby can communicate with you!