Sign language for babies parents need to learn

Sign Language For Babies

The importance of sign language for babies

Why do parents need to know sign language for babies, you may ask. Babies have things to say even before they can talk. Therefore it is important for parents to know sign language for babies in order to communicate well with them. Children learn much earlier and faster using the muscles of their arms and their hands. They can communicate more effectively with gestures way before they can do it orally. Using sign language for babies help them to express themselves giving them a wide vocabulary so that people around them can understand. Thus months or years before they can speak, children can share their emotions and feelings by using sign language for babies. They can tell what they need or want and interact with the world around them.

The benefits of using sign language for babies

In the 80’s, Joseph Garcia, a specialist in American Sign Language found that children who grew up in families where at least one parent was deaf and used sign language for babies, could communicate much earlier than their peers of the same age who are from families where the parents are of normal hearing and did not use sign language for babies. The children from a normal hearing family had to wait for the development of speech before they can communicate well.

In general, the use of sign language for babies enables children to communicate their needs and want to their parents before they even know how to speak. This resulted in a significant reduction in the frustration of the child with regards to the inability to be understood by those around him.

In addition, it has been proven in a study conducted by Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn that children using sign language for babies are able to talk more quickly and have higher IQ compared to children who don’t  use sign language for babies.

For parents, the use of sign language for babies has several advantages. Notably, it reduces the frustration that comes from not understanding her child. This also helps reduce the tantrums of children which are often caused by a lack of communication.

In addition, babies who use sign language for babies can express what they feel and what they see, and they can even remember a past event. This may lead to a more intimate and closer bond with the child. The negative moments (anger, frustration) decrease, and the positive moments (communication, sharing) increases.

What sign language for babies to introduce first?

Parents can identify what the child’s interest are and introduce sign language for babies accordingly. Just look at their interest and identify what sign language for babies that will be easier to teach them.

Around 5-6 months, the interests of the child revolve around food, milk and also sleeps a lot of time per day. The first sign language for babies that can be introduced are suckle/milk, eating or sleep. To facilitate the association between signs and events, it is important to always to show sign language for babies in the context related to the event. To introduce the sign milk / suck, make the sign whenever you give the bottle or breast to your baby. Feel free to do so several times in a row, before and after feeding. Remember to say the word aloud at the same time, so that the child can associate the spoken word with the sign.

When to start teaching sign language for babies to your baby?

There are different schools of thoughts regarding when to start teaching your child sign language for babies. Some recommend to start teaching them sign language for babies from birth. As you talk to him at birth, you can begin showing him the sign language for babies. As with spoken language, your child goes through a stage of listening before getting connected himself with speech.

This method also has the advantage of allowing you to practise early in assimilating your words with gestures. It’s not always easy to instantly make a gesture at the same time as you pronounce a word. The more you do it, the sooner you will master it.

Others, however, recommends that you wait until your child shows some signs that he is ready to receive sign language for babies such as waving “goodbye” with the hand or fingers pointing to the objects that you name.

In any case, do not be discouraged if your child does not begin to do the sign language for babies immediately. As with spoken language, some children need more time than others to communicate. Persevere and you will see the result at one time or another and soon your child will be showing the sign language for babies.

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