The Benefits Of Baby Sign Language Extend Way Beyond The First Few Years
Sponsored Link
The Benefits Of Baby Sign Language Extend Way Beyond The First Few Years
Baby Sign Language is a communication method designed to be used with hearing babies and toddlers before they can speak. It is a simplified version of sign language designed to be easy enough for baby’s to use from 6 months of age. The baby signs are often borrowed or modified from traditional sign language. These baby signs are based on gestures that symbolize the action or meaning of a word and are designed so that they can be understood even if you don?t know any sign language at all. Baby Sign Language can be taught from birth although most children have the necessary hand eye co-ordination to begin signing back to their parents and caregivers by the age of 6 months. As most babies don’t begin talking until they are between 9 – 12 months of age, Baby Sign Language gives the child a significant head start on two way communication. This milestone may seem to be a small advantage to begin with however research has shown that this small advantage flows through to have larger developmental impact later on in life.
NIH Funded Baby Sign Language Experimental Studies
Baby Sign Language is not a new concept, although it still receives much media attention around the world. The first Baby Sign Language studies were conducted as early as 1989. One of the most highly regarded and a frequently referenced experimental study is a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded study conducted by Drs Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn. This study was designed to determine the benefits of Baby Sign Language. The aim was to determine if Baby Sign Language would delay speech development in children. The children recruited into the study were assigned into two groups; the first group consisted of children that used Baby Sign Language and the second group consisted of children that did not. The children were recruited for the study at eleven months of age. Their speech and language development was followed up until they reached three years of age.
The study regularly assessed the speech and language development of the children. Language assessments were designed to measure language comprehension and language production. These assessments were conducted at assigned intervals during the study and measured the children?s ability to put words into sentences. The child?s intellectual development was also measured at 24 months.
The average scores of children in the study that were in the group that used Baby Sign Language were found to be higher than the control group who did not. By the age of twenty-four months, the signing children had a developmental advantage of three months over the non-signing children. By the time these signing children reached the age of thirty-six months, this advantage had increased dramatically from a three month developmental advantage to an equivalent twelve month advantage in their overall language skills and comprehension.
Since this research was conducted in 1989 there have been many families that use Baby Sign Language in their home. To date there hasn’t been a single study that has shown there to be any disadvantages from using Baby Sign Language. Many childcare centres are also using Baby Sign Language as part of a dedicated program.
Some parents may be concerned if they use Baby Sign Language with their children that it may delay their speech development. The results of the NIH funded study demonstrate quite clearly that this is not the case. Baby Sign Language facilitates communication between baby and parent earlier in life and is thought by some to be an essential step in the learning process. Baby Sign Language aids in the comprehension of words through actions that they understand. By providing a communication method to the baby earlier in life they understand the benefit of communication as they are rewarded with some control over their environment and their needs. This only leads on to a thirst for a more complicated language which is thought to be the reason that baby’s who sign with their parents speak earlier than those who do not.
Lisa Baade is the author of Toddler Interpreter, A Parent’s Guide to Baby Sign Language for Hearing Babies and Toddlers. The program is structured so that the most relevant and easiest baby signs are introduced first. For more information visit Toddler Interpreter
Related Videos :
- Child Development Positive Parenting Skills 1
Child Development & Positive Parenting Skills 1 Child Development & Positive Parenting Skills 1 Dr. John Breeding, Ph.D. in Child Psychology give your advice, information & tips about how to raise youre a happy and successful child; how to increase open communication between you and your child, how to help children learn, how to handle and upset child, how to deal with ADHD, etc. Visit Dr. Breeding' s Website at www.wildestcolts.com This
« view video » - Child Development Positive Parenting Skills 2
Child Development & Positive Parenting Skills 2 Child Development & Positive Parenting Skills 2 Dr. John Breeding, Ph.D. in Child Psychology give your advice, information & tips about how to raise youre a happy and successful child; how to increase open communication between you and your child, how to help children learn, how to handle and upset child, how to deal with ADHD, etc. Visit Dr. Breeding' s Website at www.wildestcolts.com This video was
« view video » - Child Development Positive Parenting Skills 3
Child Development & Positive Parenting Skills 3 Child Development & Positive Parenting Skills 3 Dr. John Breeding, Ph.D. in Child Psychology give your advice, information & tips about how to raise youre a happy and successful child; how to increase open communication between you and your child, how to help children learn, how to handle and upset child, how to deal with ADHD, etc. Visit Dr. Breeding' s Website at www.wildestcolts.com
« view video » - Rodney Atkins Cleaning this Gun Come on in Boy
Here are the lyrics for the upcoming Rodney Atkins single Cleaning this Gun (Come on in Boy). The song is on the If You' re Going Through Hell CD, which also contains three number one songs: If You' re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows), Watching You, and These are My People. (2/21/08): Cleaning This Gun has reached #1 on the Billboard Country Charts, making it the fourth consecutive
« view video » - LTTE s Media Spokeman Daya Master Interpreter George Surrender to SLA
LTTE' s Media Spokeman “Daya Master” & Interpreter, George Surrender to SLA LTTES MEDIA SPOKESMAN “DAYA MASTER” & INTERPRETER, GEORGE SURRENDER TO ARMY TROOPS MULLAITTIVU: THE LTTEs famous Media Co-ordinator, DAYA MASTER and late THAMIL SELVAMs interpreter, GEORGE along with members of their families surrendered to the Army troops in PUTHUMATHALAN, a few minutes ago after returning to cleared areas in the company of
« view video »
Related News :
- CNN Lost In Translation Question Riles Clinton
The Question May Have Been Lost In Translation, But A Visibly Angry Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton Bluntly Told A Town-Hall Meeting In The Democratic Republic Of Congo On Monday, “I Will You Tell You My Opinion, I’m Not Going To Channel My Husband.”
Read more » - Toddler Found On Street After Being Left In Van
A Fort Worth toddler is home safe after police say he was found wandering an east side neighborhood alone. Police say the child was left unattended in a daycare van. The little boy is just 4 years old and was with an employee from Rozzette’s Daycare Center.
Read more » - Community calendar
Events Its Music in the Courtyard Day at the Issaquah Farmers Market, from 9 a.m. 2 p.m. Sept. 19 at Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W. Staytuned Blue Grass Band performs at 11 a.m. Call 837-3300.The Issaquah Garden Club meets from 10 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at Tibbetts Creek Manor, 750 Renton-Issaquah Road. Gardening
Read more » - Ebadi wants new elections
SEOUL – IRANIAN Nobel peace prizewinner Shirin Ebadi called on Tuesday for a fresh election under UN surveillance to end violence in her country and urged UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to visit Teheran. Ms Ebadi, a lawyer and human rights defender who won the prize in 2003, said Mr Ban must gather first-hand information on human rights conditions before drawing up a United Nations report on…
Read more » - Community Calendar
Based upon space availability, The Review prints calendar announcements and items for columns, including campus news, newsmakers and others for local organizations and individuals. The deadline is 14 days before the desired publication date, however there is no guarantee for publication. Send releases and items of local interest to: Skokie Review or Lincolnwood Review, 3701 W. Lake Ave…
Read more » - Crystal States a cancer survivor fulfills dream of opening Montessori day care
On Oct. 1, Crystal States plans to officially open her Montessori center for a handful of area infants and toddlers. States, who was a registered nurse before becoming a Montessori teacher about 10 years ago, was diagnosed with Stage 4 uterine cancer in June 2008.
Read more » - Angels slugger Guerrero s 400th career HR is a winner
ANAHEIM – Vladimir Guerrero sure knows how to mark an occasion. The Angels’ veteran broke a tie in the seventh inning with his second home run of the game and 400th of his career in an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday at Angel Stadium.
Read more » - Good intentions alone won t change the world
Editors note: Where Are They Now is a Muscatine Journal series written by former Muscatine Journal editor Gil Dietz, who welcomes comments and suggestions. You can contact him at 563-263-5499 or gvdietz@machlink.
Read more »
babies, baby, for, interpreter, language, sign, toddler
Posted in parenting