Benefits of Baby Sign Language

Here at The Academy, we love offering Baby Sign Language in our infant and toddler classrooms. We feel that it is an important part of their daily life here at school; let's see the reasons why Baby Sign Language is a great addition to our curriculum! 

Before a child can properly vocalize their wants and needs, they must master very complex actions of the muscles in their face:

• Placement of tongue 
• Formation of lips
• Shaping of nasal passage
• Controlling of vocal cords 
• Breathing regulation, etc. 

There are so many benefits for a baby utilizing Baby Sign Language, it is hard to understand why all parents are not using it! Everyone has had moments in their lives when they could not communicate their needs in a way that others could understand. The result is a level of frustration beyond compare. Babies are the same as adults in this regard. Wanting something and being unable to explain what exactly is wanted frequently results in loud crying, utter frustration, and tantrums. So the first benefit of using Baby Sign Language is it gives your baby the ability to express his or her important needs and thoughts. Other benefits include:

• Promotes the development of language skills 
• Reinforces the language skills already developed 
• Reduces frustration at not being able to express needs 
• Increases speed of spatial reasoning development 
• Develops understanding of language for communication of emotions 
• Creates feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment!
• May increase IQ 
• Increases creative thinking 
• Teaches a 2nd language that is formally and nationally recognized (ASL)
• Reduces unexplainable emotional outbursts 
• Increases early literacy skills 
• Teaches baby how to start (and participate in) a conversation. 

Sign language for infants gives babies a way to communicate what they are truly thinking, feeling and/or needing. Because they learn to communicate early, Baby's mind develops a rapid interest in increasing communication ability. Thanks to early learning of Baby Sign Language, infants learn quickly to match particular shapes or items with a particular gesture. When your baby begins to speak, the same skills are used. One gesture means one thing in infant sign language. One word means one concept in baby talk. This enhances spatial relationships and reasoning, and cognitive skills development. This is creative thinking and is a skill that is often not taught well once the child reaches school age.

 Anything that improves creative thinking skills is advantageous. Some parents encourage a child to continue practicing American Sign Language (ASL) even after they begin speaking. ASL is the third most used language in the United States. By practicing and developing ASL as a second language, your child can benefit from having this language skill later in life. Being able to express yourself is a basic human need. Even babies are more contented when it is not a constant struggle to convey a need. Even more crucial, your infant will be able to communicate important problems like being in pain. How many times have parents been stymied about why their child won't stop crying, only to find out that something hurt? As this page has stated, Baby Signing has multiple benefits for your infant- and for parents too! 

To learn more about this topic, please visit: www.babies-and-sign-language.com/baby-sign-benefits.html

For more information about our program here at The Academy, please visit: academychilddevelopment.com