BENEFITS OF USING SIGN LANGUAGE WITH

INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN

For:  parents, older siblings, grandparents, nannies, babysitters,

childcare workers and others who care for infants and small children.

By:  Lyn J. Wiley – July 2008

*  ASL provides a happy, expressive way for little ones to communicate early in life long before they can express themselves verbally.  This translates to fewer emotional outbursts, reduced interpersonal conflicts and happier interactions between the little one and family members.  

*  Helps to create an environment of ‘caring, comfort and calm,’ due to improved family communications and interactions.

*  Enhances and expedites bonding between the little one and family members.

*  Introduces the little one, early in life, to the power, joy and value of human connections and communications.

*  Introduces the little one to a ‘second language’ early in life.  Research shows that many infants/children who learn sign language develop a fascination with other languages and other methods for communicating.

*  Allows family members to learn, early on, ‘what is important' to the little one and enables them to respond accordingly.  Allows the little one, very early in life, to express important thoughts and feelings. And, allows the older siblings and adults to understand them and respond accordingly.

*  Develops, early in life, a broad range of language skills (watching, listening, waiting one’s turn, reading non-verbals and facial expressions, learning how to initiate conversations, learning when and how to respond to conversations, learning to ‘share’ conversations and learning through conversations).  Babies and small children eager to express themselves in sign, will likely develop an eagerness also, for expressing themselves via the spoken word.

*  Allows the little one a sense of accomplishment, having been able to initiate and respond to conversations; this likely translates to a) an enhanced sense of self, b) a greater sense of belonging in the family, c) a sense of having ‘contributed’ to family dynamics, and d) develops the little one’s  self-confidence as a family member and as a communicator.

*  The American Manual Alphabet (fingerspelling) can be used to teach little ones the phonic sounds made by each letter of the alphabet; this assists the little one in learning how to read, write and pronounce words.