Baby Sign Language: Benefits and How to Start  

We all dislike watching our children unhappy, but it can be challenging to figure out exactly what your infant wants when they are too young to talk.

a little girl showing a sign

(Image source)

Are they hungry? Weary? Do they need a diaper change? Furthermore, when the baby’s message isn’t understood, it’s just as frustrating for them. Many parents have been using baby sign language to improve communication with their preverbal children in recent years. Discover the meaning and advantages of sign language and how you can teach your baby.

What is baby sign language?

Baby sign language is a collection of basic hand gestures and movements, also signs, that match everyday words you use to communicate with a baby. It is a tool for improving communication for hearing parents and infants who are not speaking. 

Baby sign language allows caregivers and babies to communicate before they say their first words.

Tips on teaching baby sign language 

  • Start easy. Look for websites or books on sign language to pick up some basic signs. Signs like more, ball, drink, up, out, or please are examples of words to your baby based on their experience and interests. Use the signs in addition to the spoken language after teaching just three to five words at first.
  • Use signs regularly. Saying the word while making the sign in a way that makes sense to your baby will aid in their learning of sign language. Say “more” while making the sign with your hands, for instance, if your baby wants more crackers. Make this sign every time your baby asks to eat more food. With her back to you, place your infant on your lap. As you make the sign and hold her hands, simultaneously say the word. When your baby makes a sign on their own, reward them profusely. “You did it!” exclaims. You indicated to me through your hands that you desire more!”  
  • Let your infant lead the way and go at their own pace. You can introduce other signs once your baby masters the first ones. But note that your main objective should be to give your child a backup means of communication while their verbal skills grow, not to become an expert sign language user. For words that your child uses frequently, stick to simple signs. Babies usually stop using signs as they become more fluent in spoken language.  
  • Have fun with it. Make sure your classes are engaging and short. Teaching sign language to your baby can help you communicate more easily, feel less frustrated, and establish meaningful connections with them. 
 a girl showing a peace sign and thumb up

(Image source)

Benefits of Baby Sign Language

More fun and fewer tantrums 

Babies become frustrated when they can’t communicate constructively, which causes tantrums and meltdowns. We’ve all felt helpless while trying to console an upset baby and guessing what they want.

Babies can use Baby Sign Language to communicate their desires. They can express when they are hungry, hot, or their stomach hurts. Families who sign report that parents and children are less frustrated.

Baby Sign Language helps you and your baby address the root cause of tantrums, allowing you to spend more time enjoying each other company. 

All parents wish they could understand their child’s thoughts. By learning sign language, you can better understand your child’s thought process and meet their needs. With baby sign language, you can sense your child’s feelings to react appropriately.

As we’ve discussed, sign lessens parental and child frustration. As a result of your improved comprehension of your child’s inner workings and increased ability to meet their demands, you and your child grow closer.

Helps children remember words

Because sign language involves muscle memory, it broadens a child’s vocabulary and aids in word recall. A child’s memory retention will increase with the number of senses they use to learn.

Moreover, it gives kids another way to recognize various words and phrases by letting them see words in use. Children learn best visually, so seeing words move is an excellent method to help them remember information at a young age.

Learning how to combine various word sets also aids in their ability to form longer sentences. Additionally, as they understand more about what other people mean by their hand gestures, signing helps them become more aware of other people’s gestures. 

Signing With Baby May Increase IQ

Your child may have a higher IQ if exposed to the learning that comes with baby sign language at a young age. Early exposure to baby sign language can help kids and parents overcome their frustrations and fits of miscommunication, allowing them to start learning words and phrases sooner.

Teaching your child to sign can improve their capacity for learning and development now and in the future. Learning baby sign language can lead to cognitive advantages such as increased vocabulary, reading and speaking at a younger age, improved academic performance, and an elevated IQ.

Increases self-esteem

Effective communication with your child will boost both their self-esteem. Patterns and repetition help to develop learning abilities. When communication fails, frustration and confusion develop, which can harm confidence. Your child’s lack of confidence may result in more tantrums or a withdrawal from social interaction entirely. When a child feels misunderstood or unable to express themselves, they often turn inward. In contrast, the better their communication skills, the more likely they are to communicate and reach out.

Teaching sign language to children at a young age has many advantages as it’s a useful life skill. Remember that learning sign language can lead to other professions like audiologist or speech-language pathologist, or it can be a long-term benefit. Infants can take advantage of sign language’s benefits for communication by learning and using it as a life skill.

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