Why Sign Language Can Work for You and Your Infant & Toddler

Today is an exciting day! Not only do we have our FIRST guest blogger post here at PWW365, but I am also a guest poster over at Cashey Mama’s Classroom today! So after you finish reading this awesome guest post by my friend Kristy, head over to Cashey Mama’s Classroom to read my guest post over there: Wishlist Wednesday!

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Today I am so excited to bring you this guest post from Kristy Davies, MS CCC-SLP. Kristy is a fellow speech language pathologist and is going to share some information on using sing language with babies and toddlers, specifically using American Sign Language to sign with them, something she and I are both very passionate about!

The use of sign language has grown in popularity over the past several years as parents begin to learn the great benefits of signing. Signing with your baby can provide you a new perspective on their thoughts and feelings and build more positive relationships. Signing with your toddler can empower their desire to communicate and be good ol’ fun!

Why sign with your child? Research has shown positive results using sign language with children to:

• reduce frustrations (for both parents and children) & tantrums
• increase social skills
• increase joint attention skills
• promote early communication
• increase vocabulary skills
• increase reading abilities and desire to read
• increase visual attending skills
• increase in cognitive development (higher IQs)
• minimize “terrible two’s”

With that being, there are myths about signing with your infants and toddlers that is important to dismiss.

• Sign language will limit their speaking ability
• Sign language will create a laziness
• Sign Language will cause speech delays

All of these are false! If taught correctly (by saying this I mean talking and signing at the same time), you can expect only positive results!

Why use American Sign Language (ASL)?

It’s important to note that all of the great benefits discussed above about signing with your child are with the use of American Sign Language (ASL). Other non-language signing/gestural systems are used by some, but do not serve the same purpose and do not demonstrate the same positive outcomes.  Using ASL allows for more generalization and carry over when the child signs with other people outside of their home. When a child goes to daycare or other facilities, they can continue to use the same signs previously taught and others will understand them. Frustrations continue to decrease! Also, your child can continue learning ASL as they grow up! ASL is accepted in college and some high school of the foreign language requirement!

So when should you start? There is not currently any research with a set age when sign language is most appropriate. Receptively, children are able to understand language much sooner than they are able to use language. Therefore, the sooner the better, right? Most say around 6 to 8 months of age. If signs are introduced around 6 months of age, you may expect to see them sign back as early as 8 – 9 months! My daughter signed MORE for the first time at 8 months. She then signed EAT and at nine months she signs MILK. The great thing is, when she signs them at the babysitter, she’s still understood b/c she’s using ASL versus other baby gestural systems.

Ways to learn sign language:

• reading and signing
• signing and singing
• DVDs (though let’s clarify that placing your child in front of the television screen and not working directly with them will not results in positive outcomes)
• Have fun with it. Let it be natural. When you change her diaper, make a silly diaper song or find one from Sign2Me® or Signing Time® and sing/sign it every time you change the diaper. Every tub time, create a jingle that you sign about getting a bath.

Kristy works as a speech-language pathologist in the school systems, early intervention, as well as with private clients. Her specialty is augmentative alternative communication (AAC), which she believes fits perfectly with ASL. Kristy uses ASL both personally (with her daughter) and professionally in her therapy sessions and by teaching classes and workshops. Kristy is BUSY! She is a Master Level Certified Sign Language Instructor through Signing Time®, a new blogger, a student in Nova Southeastern University’s SLP.D program, a wife, and a new mom of a 10 month old. She lives in New Jersey and provides a variety of sign language classes to infants, toddlers, children, and adults. Please visit her new blog (a work in progress) and her Facebook page and become followers!

Hear My Hands Blog     Hear My Hands Facebook

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Thank you Kristy for taking the time to share with us some great information on signing to babies and toddlers!

What do you think I am wishing for for Wishlist Wednesday? To find out, head over to Cashey Mama’s Classroom right now!

Cheers!