Supporting Families to Use Key Word Sign

As Playgroup facilitators, you have a critical role in supporting families. This includes providing guidance around key word sign and how it can be incorporated within the home.

Our main goal for families: Use signs during the moments that matter most.

“Sign, speak, and connect during everyday routines, play, books, songs, and emotional moments. Consistent exposure in meaningful interactions is what helps children learn and use Key Word Sign successfully.”

Show Key Word Sign in Action

Use Key Word Sign naturally throughout songs, stories, routines, and conversations. Families are more likely to use signs when they see them being used regularly and confidently in meaningful contexts.

When families are coming into sessions, adding easy signs such as ‘welcome‘ or ‘how are you‘ can spark interest and engagement with the signing journey.

Model Model Model! Adding in a few signs when directly interacting with children will support families to see how signs can be used with children. Families will see that children are more likely to engage when signs are included, and are always amazed when they see their child start signing for the first time. Model signs during songs, stories and play with children.

Explain Benefits

Some families can feel apprehensive about using key word sign with children. They might not know where to start, or might be worried about hindering their child’s speech. This is a perfect opportunity to explain the benefits of using key word sign with children from birth. Key benefits include:

• Communication (from a young age)
• Quicker speech development
• Increased bonding
• Literacy development
• Supporting children who are multilingual
• Multimodal communication
• Visual tool
• Emotional regulation

Suggestions for Home

Help families identify natural opportunities for signing at home. It is important to only suggest adding in a few signs (1-3) at a time. This ensures that both parents and children have time to become familiar and confident with the signs. Examples include:

• Mealtimes: eat, drink, more, finished
• Bath time: wash, water, bubbles
• Bedtime: book, sleep, cuddle
• Play: ball, turn, help, go
• Emotions: happy, sad, angry, calm

Emphasise that signs work best when used during real interactions rather than formal teaching sessions. Reassure families that signs do not need to be perfect. Encourage them to:

• Have a go
• Model consistently
• Respond positively to children’s attempts

Communication and connection are more important than accuracy.

Tips for ‘Starting Small’

When supporting families to begin using Key Word Sign with their child, it’s best to start with just 10-12 core signs—basic words like help, eat, drink, more, finish and stop. Here’s why starting small works best:

1. Avoid Overwhelm: A few key signs make learning manageable for you and your child, ensuring consistency and reducing frustration.
2. Build Confidence: Mastering a small set of signs gives your child a sense of achievement, making them more eager to continue learning.
3. Meet Immediate Needs: Core signs focus on essential, everyday words that allow your child to communicate their basic needs effectively.
4. Flexible Usage: These signs apply to many situations—more works at meals, playtime, and during activities—giving your child plenty of practice opportunities.
5. Foundation for Growth: Starting small sets a solid foundation for expanding their vocabulary as they become more comfortable with signing.

Check out our free helpful sign poster—click here for a guide to help families get started!

Social Media

We are on social media! As many families engage with social media platforms on a regular basis, encouraging them to follow our facebook, instagram and/or youtube will support key word sign to appear more in their everyday life. We post a sign of the week every Monday, as well as regular themed posts for events (e.g. Halloween, Christmas, Reconciliation Week, World Nursery Rhyme Week).

Resources to Share with Families

There are lots of resources and information you can share with families about key word sign. Parents are welcome to access our parental portal, which explores brief pieces of information on what key word sign is. They can also access free resources we have, use our free sign dictionary and download our free baby sign app!