Ever since the movie "Meet The Fockers" introduced a toddler that can use Baby Sign Language to communicate. I have been hearing people talk about it, and I'm seeing more and more mothers using sign language (along with speaking the words) to their children. So I decided to read more about the pro's and con's on the subject of it. Let me tell you, it's a very innovative and interesting concept with many benefits for the child. This new age of BSL communications might have been going on for a few years, but I just realized how wide spread it is among the 20-35 age group of new parents.
Do you think this is a interesting concept?
Would you teach your hearing child to Sign?
More details quoted in the book I read: Children are less frustrated because they can express themselves-signing empowers them.
Greater self-esteem & self confidence because they are understood, they grow up thinking well of themselves.
A closer parent-child bond develops from all the list above interactions.
And the best benefit to the child is:
*Greater brain function: Spoken language is stored in the left brain, visual information is stored in the right brain. In signing both hemispheres of the brain are being used!!!*
They leads to higher IQ, and higher reading levels. Wow, this sounds like a great way to give a baby/toddler a great head start!
My opinion:
After reading about Joseph Garcia, and the
Acredolo-Goodwyn team's findings, I really believe this is worth the time and effort to teach to all hearing babies.
1 comment… read it below or add one
I'm really not sure, after looking over the really good answers you've gotten so far i might be leaning towards teaching Baby Sign. I had a cousin who was the youngest of 8 kids who didn't talk for several years. When his parents finally took him in to get checked out they found out that he was really smart and a bit on the lazy side i suppose. You see he had all these other older kids to do for him. All he had to do was point and he got what he wanted..:) When they stopped, it wasn't long before he started talking.