Baby Sign Language - Your Child Can Express Herself
The benefits of baby sign language can be numerous. Parents the world over WISH their baby could just tell them what they want. It is sooo frustrating when your baby cries and you just can’t figure out what to do. Babies can’t talk yet, but they can learn to communicate in other ways. Speech is very complicated, because requires learning to form the mouth, tongue placement, breath control and many other skills. So speech is simply not in the cards for a baby under a year or so of age. But your baby can move her hands and fingers pretty well, as any mommy with long hair or a daddy with a curly beard knows painfully well! Communicate Effectively!Teaching your baby sign language is a big step towards communicating effectively. Not only will it give those wonderfully articulate fingers something to do, but it gives your baby a way to express herself to you. Now baby can tell you she's hungry or needs a diaper change (although, the smell usually gives this one away without any signs!) Teaching your baby to use signs for communication has other benefits too. For instance, signing promotes development of vocal skills. Baby hears you talking and wants to be like you. So you would teach your baby sign language in conjunction with speech as you teach the infant. This also can help to strengthen what may already be learned. Have you ever noticed a baby who seems to be frustrated by not being able to express themselves? Being able to use sign language reduces that stress level and does away with those loud, unexplainable tantrum-like fits of emotion. Even More BenefitsAside from the obvious positive things associated with this topic, there are a couple of "not so obvious" reasons it's a good idea. Like increasing the IQ as baby grows older. It is a known fact that babies who begin communication early have a higher intelligence level. Another benefit is an increase in creativity. More creativity means a child who will play longer on their own, and is happier and more content. A happy kid means a happy mom and dad, too! Plus the use of baby sign language gives baby a desire to develop better communication skills. Also, keep in mind that ASL (American Sign Language) is an accepted language. Your baby who learns this skill is effectively bilingual as a direct result of having learned it. In actuality, signing will be their "first" language with talking coming up behind. Last, but certainly not least, is the promotion of literacy skills. Once a child begins to communicate with signs, he/she will quickly move on to speech and then other forms of communication, such as reading and writing. Literacy rates are higher as a result. So get some more information on baby sign language and set your baby on the path to a brighter future. He/she will thank you for it. Literally.
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