Thursday, February 17, 2011

Some FAQ's about signing

I just loved teaching my dd1 sign language out of all the things I have taught her this is probably my favourite and the one I enjoyed the most. This allowed me to communicate with her from a very young age but there are many myths about signing with your child so I thought I would give you some of the facts from a sign language researcher from Australian baby hands for you to read for yourself.



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.
  • Please feel free to re-publish this article on your website including the authors bio details below in full.
Article written by Ja dd2 ckie 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




I hope that this has answered some of your questions. Teaching sign language to my dd1 and soon to start with dd2 has been a wonderful experience and I hope that the above answers to your questions, eases your mind and you to can start this wonderful communication between you and your baby.

Kimba 

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