Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Benefits of Sign Language with Older Toddlers


Baby sign language gives parents the opportunity to communicate with children long before babies can verbalize their wants and needs.  More than two decades of evidence based studies studies show that signing with babies accelerates language acquisition, reduces frustration and aggressive behavior, and as children mature, results in a greater interest in reading.  Signing with your baby is a wonderful way to deepen the bond between you and your child and jump starts his or her verbal skills.  But are there benefits to signing with toddlers after they become verbal?  The answer is, "yes!"

As your child matures and starts to verbalize she will go through a transitional period, speaking some words and signing others.  Around 19 months of age, a child will often drop the sign as soon she can say the word.  It’s so much easier to say “Mommy” than to sign it.

However, even at two or three years old, it’s not always easy for parents to understand what their child is saying.  Using sign language bridges the gap and gives your child a way to communicate with you.  Asking your child if she can use her hands to tell you what she wants can reduce her frustration and minimize temper tantrums, making the "terrible twos" not so terrible.  Signing is also great to use at a noisy playground, re
ducing a parent's need to shout.  You can get your child's attention by whistling or making eye contact and then signing what you need your child to know, whether it's a five minute warning before heading home or a reminder to be careful.

Signing is a good thing for all age groups.  Fingerspelling helps children as they learn to read.  Many children are visual learners and sign language helps this type of learner to integrate new information.  Parents and children can fingerspell the letters as the child sounds out the words.

Sign language is also beneficial for kinesthetic learners - those who learn by doing. Signing allows children to channel their physical energy into communicating a thought.  Children have said that when they are practicing for their spelling quiz that it helps them “feel the phonics” when they fingerspell each word.

When an individual signs, language is processed in the auditory, visual and kinesthetic brain centers and memories are stored in different parts of the brain.  Therefore, when a child signs, he is utilizing different neural modalities, thus accessing more brain power, so to speak.

Touch Blue Sky's Baby Sign Language Director, Bill Austin-White tells a story of being out on a stroller walk with his son, Liam.  Liam was a toddler and had be speaking verbally for a few months now.  About five blocks from home, Liam said, "Mush mush!"  Bill increased the pace thinking that his son wanted him to go faster like a dog sled (watching The Discovery Channel was a family activity).  Increasingly frustrated, Liam said "Mush mush!" again and again.  Bill stopped the stroller and requested Liam to say it slower. Liam replied, "Muuuushhhh."  Bill then asked, "Can you tell me with your hands?"  Liam signed "gorilla" and Bill instantly understood what Liam wanted - Gorilla Munch cereal, which was located in a container in the bottom of the stroller.  Signing averted a potential melt down.  Liam (and Daddy) were happy all the way home.

All that said, signing is just plain fun.  At times, it gives our family our own little “secret language.”  Be careful what you sign though.  American Sign Language is one of the most popular languages in the nation!

Join us at Blossom for the upcoming workshop and playgroup: 
Introductory Workshops
Wednesday, September 29, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Playgroup Series
Six Wednesdays, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
October 6 to November 10 (Playgroup Zoom)

For information on baby sign language classes please visit Blossom Birth

Contributed by: Touch Blue Sky's Baby Sign Language Director, Bill Austin-White