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Baby signs are non-verbal cues based on American Sign Language that encourage babies and toddlers to communicate their needs. They can reduce frustration and be a bonding experience, but some researchers believe they may hinder verbal development. Baby signs can also be helpful for older children with developmental disabilities.
Baby signs are a non-verbal communication system designed to encourage babies and toddlers who have yet to develop spoken language skills to communicate their needs. Most of the signs are loosely based on American Sign Language, although some changes have been made to make the gestures easier for children to learn. Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn are two of the researchers credited with popularizing the idea of using sign language to practice speaking with your baby.
Baby’s sign language vocabulary is quite simple. Common baby signs include gestures for “food,” “change me,” “sleep,” and “help.” These are known as needs-based cues, as they encourage a child to communicate her basic needs. Children’s signs such as “puppy”, “car”, “television” or “book” are called highly motivating signs, as they are meant to encourage a child to express interest in a particular object or activity.
Parents who practice baby signs with their children say that signing with your baby offers many benefits. By allowing children to communicate when they are hungry, angry or tired, frustration levels are reduced for all family members. Time spent teaching your child to sign can also be a great bonding experience.
However, not everyone is convinced that the baby sign is useful. Some researchers believe that children who can express themselves through this form of sign language will be less motivated to develop their verbal skills. Others feel that the process of teaching baby signs takes too much time and encourages parents to put unnecessary pressure on their children.
If you’re interested in learning more about baby signs, there are a number of educational materials that offer tips on how to teach your child sign language. Books and websites tend to provide an informal approach to signing with your child, while DVDs offer the opportunity for structured lessons. Choosing the best method for teaching baby signs requires careful consideration of your child’s temperament and your level of interest.
Although most of the references available to parents interested in baby signs focus on teaching children who are simply too young for spoken language, there is some evidence that baby signs can be helpful for older children who suffer from developmental disabilities. For example, simple baby cues can be helpful for autistic children who lack verbal communication skills. There have been several cases where severely autistic children have shown a decrease in aggression and tantrums once they were able to use signs to communicate their needs to parents and other caregivers.
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