When my children were babies/toddlers, we used sign language as a means to communicate their desires since this period, prior to speech and language development, can be frustrating to parents and children alike. Furthermore, when we were at restaurants, I remember getting compliments from other diners and wait staff since my children did not need to resort to screaming, crying, and grabbing for their needs. Fortunately, I have a background in American Sign Language, so I was able to easily incorporate ASL into our daily lives. My interest in the My Baby Can Talk program was sparked by my hopes of finding a sign language program to recommend to families that would be easy for parents as well as interesting to their children.

The 3 DVDs and accompanying board books are (1) First Signs, (2) Sharing Signs, and (3) Exploring Signs. Each DVD includes a Parent Tutorial and a Quick Reference Signing Card with illustrations of the signs presented. The board books allow for further enjoyment and review for you and your child. They would also come in handy when a DVD player isn't available.

The DVDs cover different signs that are developmentally appropriate for babies age 10 to 36 months.

• First Signs invites babies and parents to come on an engaging and interactive journey to discover the first 20 signs and words that are most loved by babies--including eat, drink, milk, more, book, go, and the names of favorite animals!
• Sharing Signs introduces 28 words and signs that babies and parents love to share--including apple, bath, ball, daddy, diaper, elephant, flower, help, mommy, please, share, sleep and thank you! There are also additional signs for parents to introduce--including grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, brother and sister.
• Exploring Signs introduces babies to 24 words and signs to encourage them to explore and begin to communicate about the world around them. This playful exploration presents words and signs for colors, foods, nature, and play.

Clearly, the Baby Hands team has done their research on the benefits of teaching babies sign language: larger vocabulary, speaking sooner, and increased IQ scores. Not surprisingly, the My Baby Can Talk series has secured more than 16 parent awards. The programs' use of classical music, real world images, puppet shows, toys in action, and other babies lends assurance that your child will be engaged and entertained while learning sign language. Always remember--"Little hands have big things to say."

Product review by Stephanie D. Scarborough, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November 2010