According to the article, “Baby, Sign to Me! Benefits of Teaching Sign Language to Hearing Infants” by Rena Blumberg, she states that, “infants are able to communicate long before they can manipulate their tongues, lips and vocal cords” (Blumberg, 1). By communicating through signs, children can learn to sign physical and emotional needs and curiosities. In the article titled, “Why Teach Babies Sign Language?” by Armin Brott, he states that, “signing improves babies’ motor skills, builds vocabulary and language abilities, reduces tantrums and frustration and has even been linked with an increase in IQ” (Brott, 1). It is amazing that signing with your baby before he or she can even speak can have so many advantages in the long run. With all these wonderful benefits, it seems that every parent should teach their child to sign.
Parents who already know American Sign Language can just begin to choose a sign. If the parents don’t know ASL, or any sign language for that matter, parents can choose a great internet source or sign up and take classes in their local community. In an article titled, “Babies Taught to Use Sign Language” by Lea Blevins, she writes about an upcoming class called Baby Sign Language which is being offered in Amador Valley Adult and Community Education. She states that the class “…will guide parents, grandparents, and caretakers and their babies through a course on fostering early communication between parents and children” (Blevins, 1).
In order to get started with the child, the parents and caregivers must choose signs that are need based and they should also have a highly motivated attitude. Signs involving eating such as eat, drink, more, or milk are good signs to begin with. Also, it is always important to teach them how to sign Mommy and Daddy. It will take time and effort to get a baby to start signing so parents and caregivers should remember to be consistent and open to interpretation since they are just infants. Parents should be expressive and most of all, to be patient. Parents and caregivers should remember to make the learning experience fun for their baby and should give praise for the baby’s efforts at communicating.
Parents who sign with their baby may experience deeper bonding with their baby because they have greater insight into their baby’s wants and needs. Parents will also achieve a higher level or trust with their baby because they will be able to understand what the child is trying to tell them. Signing with babies will also give parents and caregivers a great feeling of satisfaction because they can communicate efficiently with the child before he or she can even speak. In the end, these rewards are great for the parents and the child, but the best reward is the deeper bond between the parents and their child thanks to communication via sign language.
www.lifeprint.com A great source for anyone interested in ASL
Works Cited
Blevins, Lea. (2005, Apr. 26). Babies Taught to Use Sign Language. Oakland Tribune. ANG Newspapers. Retrieved 2 Apr. 2009:
Blumberg, Rena Morningstar. (2005, Fall). Baby, Sign to Me! Benefits of Teaching Sign Language to Hearing Infants. Special Delivery. Association of Labor Assistants & Childbirth Educators. Retrieved 2 Apr. 2009:
Brott, Armin. (2003, Dec. 28). Why Teach Babies Sign Language. Oakland Tribune. ANG Newspapers. Retrieved 2 Apr. 2009:
