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 selfexpression. |
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:
Introduce baby signing into your home today by downloading a free baby
sign chart from http://www.australianbabyhands.com.
You can also read
stories from parents who have introduced baby sign as well as more
about the benefits
of having a signing child.
