Baby sign language is the practice of using simple sign language
or gestures to assist parents, family and child care workers to
communicate with pre-verbal babies. You may find that you already
use some of the basics. Read on to find out the benefits of baby
sign language and how to get started.
From all the studies conducted in this field the benefits of
introducing your baby to sign language are vast. Baby sign
language:
- Can empower your baby to communicate with those around them
before they are able to speak. This means that your baby may be
able to communicate what they want when they want it. It may also
enable them to initiate a conversation about topics that interest
them. Furthermore it bridges the gap between no language and spoken
language.
- Can reduce frustration for both you and your baby. Sign
language may allow your baby to tell you what they want, what's
wrong or what hurts. Therefore your baby may experience less
frustration, tantrums and crying. If your baby is able to
communicate their basic needs to you, it means you do not have to
try and interpret their cries. Sign language can help reduce those
tear-filled frustrated moments.
- Can enrich the parent-child relationship. By introducing baby
sign language into your home, you are enhancing the bond with your
baby. The nature of Baby sign communication leads you and your baby
towards responding to each other in turn and this is a really
valuable skill. Signing involves daily interactions with your baby
that will eventually lead to a two-way conversation.
- Can provide an insight into your baby's mind and who they
really are. Baby sign language allows your baby to initiate a
conversation with you about what they are interested in. It allows
you to see what they are thinking, what they are interested in and
what the world looks like from their view. All this before your
baby can talk!
- Can stimulate intellectual development and improve memory.
Children are fascinated with sign language and often pay greater
attention to what is being taught when it is involved. It has also
been shown that when children learn a word in conjunction with the
sign, they are more likely to remember the meaning of the
word.
- Can accelerate the speech process. Research has shown that
children who use sign language may acquire spoken language faster
than non-signing children.
- Can enhance a baby's confidence, self-esteem and
self-expression. Due to a baby's ability to communicate their
needs, wants and interests through signing, a baby may become more
confident.
- Baby sign language can stimulate brain development and
potentially increase your baby's I.Q. Teaching sign language can
stimulate your baby's brain development. Research has illustrated
that signing babies achieve higher scores on future I.Q. tests (up
to 12 I.Q. points higher) than children who learn to speak in the
traditional manner. Signing can stimulate brain development as when
learning sign language you use both the right and left hemisphere
of the brain compared to learning a spoken language, which only
uses the brain's left hemisphere. This use of both hemispheres
results in the brain building more synapses.
- Children who keep up sign language are effectively bilingual.
By introducing your baby to signs from Australian Baby Hands, you
are introducing your baby to a second language. Brain research
suggests that language skills are acquired best in the first years
of a baby's life. Also, by introducing Auslan to your baby and
continuing to use this wonderful language after they can speak, you
are giving your child the gift to communicate with the Australian
deaf and hard of hearing community in sign language.
Article written by Jackie Durnin: Jackie Durnin is the
Author of "Australian Baby Hands", using Auslan, Australian Sign
Language to communicate with your baby. For more details go to www.australianbabyhands.com
where you can register for you're FREE chart of common
signs.