Baby Sign Language - the Research and Benefits
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.
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