Teaching your children sign language isn't prohibited nor suggested. It's your own personal choice as to what you choose to do and how you do it.
What we teach our children and how we teach it is up to us we just need to be aware of both sides.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Disadvantages
-You have to be consistent with using the signs.
-If you don't use the verbal words as well as the sign it can hinder their speech.
-It takes time to teach the children the signs.
-You have you have to be able to remember the signs as well.
-If no one else in your family or teacher uses the signs they won't know how to help your children.
-Once they have learned sign they may not be as inclined to use words and just use signs.
-Baby sign is not all completely the same as ASL that is used, so they could get confused when around other signs.
-Wide variety of signs that are used it's not all the same.
-If you don't use the verbal words as well as the sign it can hinder their speech.
-It takes time to teach the children the signs.
-You have you have to be able to remember the signs as well.
-If no one else in your family or teacher uses the signs they won't know how to help your children.
-Once they have learned sign they may not be as inclined to use words and just use signs.
-Baby sign is not all completely the same as ASL that is used, so they could get confused when around other signs.
-Wide variety of signs that are used it's not all the same.
Advantages
-"The most important benefit to using sign language with your infant or toddler is his increased ability to use language to communicate. Teaching your baby or toddler signs that correlate with needs and desires will give hime the confidence to communicate."
-"Professor Linda Acredolo (U.C.Davis), and Professor Susan Goodwyn (C.S.U.)...research baby sign language. Their research shows that signing babies have larger vocabularies and improved cognitive development. Baby Sign Language seems to help bridge the gap to speaking for infants. it also seems to get them more interested in learning.
In fact, if a baby has trouble speaking, most speech pathologists will teach the baby to sign as a bridge to speaking. The reason is that talking can be very hard and frustrating for babies. They try to form words but they don't quite come out right. For example, instead of "ball" the child might approximate by saying "ba". When the words aren't recognized by the parents babies get frustrated and give up. When the baby does the accompanying sign, parents recognize and reward the approximate pronunciation. Over time as the babies speech gets better, they drop signing because it is too slow- much like a walking toddler stops crawling."
In addition to helping young children learn to talk they develop socially and emotionally examples are:
-Reduces frustrations, biting and other aggressive behaviors.
-Helps parents and teachers be more observant and responsive.
-Builds trust between children and their parents and caregivers.
-Allows children to share their worlds revealing just how smart they really are.
-Promotes positive emotional development.
-Boosts children's self-confidence and builds self-esteem.
-"Professor Linda Acredolo (U.C.Davis), and Professor Susan Goodwyn (C.S.U.)...research baby sign language. Their research shows that signing babies have larger vocabularies and improved cognitive development. Baby Sign Language seems to help bridge the gap to speaking for infants. it also seems to get them more interested in learning.
In fact, if a baby has trouble speaking, most speech pathologists will teach the baby to sign as a bridge to speaking. The reason is that talking can be very hard and frustrating for babies. They try to form words but they don't quite come out right. For example, instead of "ball" the child might approximate by saying "ba". When the words aren't recognized by the parents babies get frustrated and give up. When the baby does the accompanying sign, parents recognize and reward the approximate pronunciation. Over time as the babies speech gets better, they drop signing because it is too slow- much like a walking toddler stops crawling."
In addition to helping young children learn to talk they develop socially and emotionally examples are:
-Reduces frustrations, biting and other aggressive behaviors.
-Helps parents and teachers be more observant and responsive.
-Builds trust between children and their parents and caregivers.
-Allows children to share their worlds revealing just how smart they really are.
-Promotes positive emotional development.
-Boosts children's self-confidence and builds self-esteem.
Ways to Teach if you Choose
If you choose to teach your children there are many different options.
There is Baby Sign Language
-Kit that includes a chart, dictionary, guide book, flashcards
There is Baby Signing Time
-Videos - They each teach something different
-Charts you can use to help remember
Another option is just use what you know or learn the basic words that will help with your children's needs, and desires.
Resources
http://www.livestrong.com/article/267089-disadvantages-of-baby-sign-language/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/179812-sign-language-its-effects-on-language-development-in-infants-toddlers/
http://www.babysignlanguage.com/basics/faqs/
https://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=64
http://www.uwo.ca/fhs/csd/ebp/reviews/2006-07/Paling.pdf
http://www.livestrong.com/article/179812-sign-language-its-effects-on-language-development-in-infants-toddlers/
http://www.babysignlanguage.com/basics/faqs/
https://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=64
http://www.uwo.ca/fhs/csd/ebp/reviews/2006-07/Paling.pdf
Poll
Something else that i decided that I wanted to do is to see how many people have thought about or would teach their children sign language. I also asked them if they ever thought about if it would affect their language development.
If they have ever thought about/want to teach their children sign language
Want to
||||||
Thought about it
||
Don't want to
||
Haven't thought about it
||||
Do you think it could cause problems with their language development.
Yes
|
Maybe
|
No
||||||
Overall when I was asking everyone these questions some of them were really enthusiastic about teaching them because they either absolutely wanted to or did think about it. Where others weren't really interested in it or thought about it.
When it came to whether or not they thought it would affect their language it was all basically the same. They said that if they were to teach them sign language they would also speak when doing the signs so they would hear the word as well. Some of them could see why people say it would delay their speech but only if they didn't use their voice and signs. Those that haven't really thought about it or didn't want to their main reason was because they just didn't want to or because that means they would have to learn it too and try and remember all the signs also.
When talking to some of the parents that used sign they didn't really use a whole lot of signs either. It was basic for their children so they could be able to say what they wanted using signs before they could talk. They also didn't have any bad experiences. There were also some that didn't really think about it till i brought it up and wondered if it would have helped their children in any way.
If they have ever thought about/want to teach their children sign language
Want to
||||||
Thought about it
||
Don't want to
||
Haven't thought about it
||||
Do you think it could cause problems with their language development.
Yes
|
Maybe
|
No
||||||
Overall when I was asking everyone these questions some of them were really enthusiastic about teaching them because they either absolutely wanted to or did think about it. Where others weren't really interested in it or thought about it.
When it came to whether or not they thought it would affect their language it was all basically the same. They said that if they were to teach them sign language they would also speak when doing the signs so they would hear the word as well. Some of them could see why people say it would delay their speech but only if they didn't use their voice and signs. Those that haven't really thought about it or didn't want to their main reason was because they just didn't want to or because that means they would have to learn it too and try and remember all the signs also.
When talking to some of the parents that used sign they didn't really use a whole lot of signs either. It was basic for their children so they could be able to say what they wanted using signs before they could talk. They also didn't have any bad experiences. There were also some that didn't really think about it till i brought it up and wondered if it would have helped their children in any way.
Interview
For my interview I chose to talk to my sister in law Kelli. The reason that I chose her to interview is because she started to teach my niece when she was 9 months old sign language. Not only did she teacher her signs but when my niece was 12 months old she had my niece watch the baby signing time videos.
Me: What the pros were for teaching Britlee sign language?
Kelli: Well it made it so we could communicate with her and her with us. It made her happy. I also believe that it built some confidence in her.
Me: How do you think it built confidence in her?
Kelli:
Me: What were the cons of teaching it to Britlee?
Kelli: I honestly haven't seen any cons. I know that some people told me she probably would take longer to talk but i don't think that it delayed it really. It was hard though if she had a babysitter that didn't know the signs because they didn't understand and she would get frustrated.
Me: What the pros were for teaching Britlee sign language?
Kelli: Well it made it so we could communicate with her and her with us. It made her happy. I also believe that it built some confidence in her.
Me: How do you think it built confidence in her?
Kelli:
Me: What were the cons of teaching it to Britlee?
Kelli: I honestly haven't seen any cons. I know that some people told me she probably would take longer to talk but i don't think that it delayed it really. It was hard though if she had a babysitter that didn't know the signs because they didn't understand and she would get frustrated.
Welcome!
For this blog I wanted to talk about the pros and cons of teaching young children sign language before they are able to talk. I have always been interested in sign language itself because it's a form of communication that people use. I have also been around parents who have taught their children simple signs as a way for them to communicate what they want. I also always thought that teaching your children a few signs before they are able to talk would be a good way to communicate to fulfill their needs. I never really thought it would be a bad thing but after taking a class it really made me think if it was a good thing to do. So I'm hoping that what i am going to share with you will help you.
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