Last week I talked about the difference between American Sign Language and Baby Sign Language. The low down: I prefer teaching American Sign Language to children, because it is a well established language. However, both methods are great. Have you ever wondered what the point of teaching sign language to babies is, especially if the baby can hear just fine? There are many great reasons.
Six Benefits of Teaching Sign Language to Children
1. Create a strong emotional bond between caregiver and child through improved eye contact and increased moments for touch
2. Improved confidence and self-esteem
3. Less frustration on the child’s part and less guessing (about why the child is crying) on the parents part
4. Less tantrums due to the ability to demonstrate what is wrong/needed
5. May help boost the emergence of spoken words. Often babies who sign demonstrate first words earlier than those who don’t
6. It’s a whole lot of fun!
One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching children how to communicate with their hands is the visual aspect of it. Many kids learn much better “seeing” and “doing” rather than just listening and repeating. This goes for learning manners too. It seems to me that kids these days don’t say “please” or “thank you” without being asked. Are parents teaching their children about manners anymore? Teaching young children about manners using sign language is a great way to show them that manners matter. When teaching manners using sign language, the three basic signs I teach are “sorry”, “please” and “thank you”.
Sign for “Sorry”
The sign for “sorry” is made by placing your right hand in the shape of the “s” or “a” (hand in a fist) on your chest. Then rotate your hand over your heart in a few clockwise circular motions. Watch Xander as he demonstrates the sign for “sorry”.
Sign for “Please”
The sign for “please” is made by placing your flat right hand on your chest and moving it in a clockwise motion a few times.
Watch Xander as he wins my heart over with his magic “please” eyes. Most children will be able to make this sign without difficulty.
Sign for “Thank You”
To sign “thank you”, place your fingers of your dominant hand near your lips in a flat hand position. Then move your hand forward and a bit down in the direction of the person you are thanking.
Bonus: Sign for “Hurt”
I never thought to teach Xander the sign for “hurt”. Since pain is such a abstract concept, a visual signal may help a child learn how to express pain in a more effective way than crying. In turn it helps the child’s caregiver to meet their needs a lot faster. I am currently teaching Noah and Xander how to use the sign “hurt”. The sign “hurt” is made by extending the index fingers of both hands and bringing them together in a jabbing motion. The sign is done near the place of pain, so if you have a stomach ache the sign is done at your stomach. This sign may be difficult for a child to learn at first, but keep practicing it. You will be surprised how quickly kids pick up on these signs!
* Xander has been using the Singing Times Potty Time DVD/CD and watch throughout our potty training adventures. The other Singing Times videos are wonderful as well!
* Night time story reading is fun with the One Step Ahead Sign series books, including mealtime, playtime and going out.
* I am typically not a fan of teaching sign language through flash cards but the Carson-Dellosa Publishing Sign Language have fun illustrations and Xander loves any type of cards.
Do you have any experience teaching your children sign language? When did you start? What signs do they know?
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Your Child’s Speech and Language Evaluation Vlog Style
How to Teach Your Child Sign Language During Mealtime (with giveaway)
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: itsavol
July 30, 2012 at 12:00 PM
I might start this with Evie. She already says please & thank you. Do you think it is worth starting the signs at 16 months old? Hope you are having fun preparing for blogHer!
Sarah @ It’s a Vol recently posted..Fearless
It’s never too late to start teaching your kids sign language. Xander even enjoys learning new signs and uses them. It’s especially fun when they are in a place where it’s too loud or they have to be quiet. I think it’s a great idea! Can’t wait to see how it goes. I’m still using them with Noah and he is just a month younger than Evie.
Mindi recently posted..Teaching Sign Language to Children: Manners
Twitter: mmryan1982
July 30, 2012 at 12:18 PM
I do baby signs with my son, although I would prefer to do ASL. I just know the baby signs from my time working at a daycare. I love that he can tell me what he wants even before he can say the words. Plus if he has to start daycare in the fall, he will be able to better communicate with his teachers who won’t know him as well as me and my family do.
Melissa Ryan recently posted..Project of the weekend– Sensory Bottles
I am trying hard to get our daycare provider to start sign language. It’s such a great thing to teach little ones! Thanks for stopping by! Come back next Monday for another topic on speech and language!
Such a great post – as always – but this one so resonates with me right now… we’re really struggling with Olivia, who’s so inconsistent with her signs
ang recently posted..Painting with Trucks
Thanks Ang! Just keep at it and she will pick it up! Noah only uses a few too. He would much rather talk these days.
Mindi Stavish recently posted..Teaching Sign Language to Children: Manners
thanks for the encouragement! i think the only thing that remains the same as the kids grow, is that i second guess myself! we had liv’s 15mo appt today and dr. t is very happy with her speech/signing skills, so that’s good
hope you’re having a fantastic tuesday!
ang recently posted..Lemon Supreme Cupcakes
Twitter: sarahmhalstead
July 30, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Very good post. Love it.
Oh and I LOVE your new design.
Sarah recently posted..Project 365 Rewind {Week #30} | Heat/Hot
This post is so interesting; I learned a lot! You post the best stuff! Thanks for sharing! By the way, love the new bloggy look
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