Benefits of Signing With Your Baby
Teaching Infant Sign Language Increases Communication and Happiness
The benefits of signing with babies are long term, as well as immediate. First of all, signing gives babies a way to communicate that instantly reveals how much of a true person they are, with their own individual wants and needs.
Babies who sign are calmer and happier babies who experience much lower levels of frustration than non-signing babies. According to the National Literary Trust, “The second year of life can be one of great frustration for infants and their caregivers. One of the major causes of tantrums is the toddlers’ inability to communicate." When babies are given communication skills, many of these frustrations are greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated.
Baby Sign Language Promotes Bonding
Signing with babies also promotes a close bonding between parents and child. When signing with a baby, parents can quickly and simply identify and meet their child’s needs, enhancing trust and feelings of safety in the baby.
Signing With Babies Encourages Linguistic Development
Many who first hear of baby signing express concern that their child will not learn to speak if they learn sign language, when actually the opposite is true. A study by Acredolo and Goodwyn, reported by the National Literary Trust showed that, “signing babies understood more words, had larger vocabularies, and engaged in more sophisticated play than non-signing babies.”
Babies linguistically benefit hugely from learning sign language. The early exposure to a language form helps them to communicate in sign language and their choice of spoken languages. But the benefits of baby sign language do not stop there. In fact, research by the National Literary Trust has shown that babies who sign grow up to have higher IQ’s than those of non-signers, by an average of about 12 points. The benefits of signing with babies are numerous and clearly apparent right from the first sign.
How Does Teaching Babies Sign Language Really Work?
It is clear that signing with babies is easy for both parents and babies, and that the benefits are astounding, but why exactly does this work? Why do babies and children who sign experience such great benefits? In her 2001 book, Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacy, Marilynn Daniel attempts to answer that question.
She suggests that learning sign language gives babies and children access to a separate memory storage location. Since sign language is a physical activity it is remembered in a separate location than English, or another spoken language. This gives children a separate place to look for answers and communication.
Signing Enhances Brain Development and Communication
Daniel also explains that the brain actually grows larger in response to language stimulation, and that using sign language along with English, “provides a much richer language base for brain activity and brain growth and development." The action of signing itself, she maintains, increases these benefits. The movement helps the child to create a meaning for the word, and helps them to think more concretely. Through Daniel’s research it becomes clear to see how the brain is affected by signing, and how the benefits are rooted in medical and scientific research.
Sign language is quickly becoming a fascinating new way to communicate with babies. Some people are attracted to the learning benefits, others to the social benefits, and still others to the strong connection they could enjoy with their baby. Signing is so popular because it is easy to learn and easy to teach, although there are classes and products, none of them are necessary to enjoy increased communication with babies.
Baby Sign Language: Happier Babies, Happier Homes
The benefits of signing with babies are broad and ample. There are many schools and daycares in which signing has helped greatly to limit children’s frustrations and increase their self confidence. Parents have also benefited from the clear communication with their babies. Signing with babies is a proven way to help increase their knowledge and their learning abilities, and boost the quality of life for everyone in the household.
Sources:
The National Literary Trust, (2007). Baby signing and language development. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from Talk to Your Baby Web site..
Daniels, Marilyn. Dancing With Words: Signing For Hearing Children's Literacy. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey. 2001.
Teaching Babies Sign Language Benefits Everyone
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Communicate With Your Baby Through Sign Language
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