Frequently asked Questions about Baby Signing and Signing with Young Children
Since its introduction in the United States in 1817, ASL has evolved into the accepted gestural language of North America. It is standardized throughout the United States and Canada, and is currently the third most commonly-used language in North America.
Using a standardized language not only provides family members with a unified system of communication, but also offers childcare providers a consistent means to better serve the needs of all children. When a family uses a collection of fabricated “home signs” and gestures with their baby, it greatly decreases the likelihood that the child will be able to communicate with other families, caregivers, and children. Using American Sign Language (ASL) also provides a foundation for the continued learning of ASL throughout a child’s life.
Visually Speaking believes that the education of American Sign Language should be taught by individuals whom are fluent in ASL, regularly socialize in the Deaf community and have access to the ever changing language of ASL and Deaf culture. Having a Deaf instructor may be a new cultural experience for you and if it concerns you, we suggest you keep an open mind. Almost all of our clients would say the most valuable experience they received was being taught by a Deaf instructor. All of our Instructors, whether Deaf or hearing have many years of experience in Deaf-hearing interactions and can quickly put your fears to ease making learning fun for all, regardless of communication barriers that may be present. We pride ourselves in not only teaching sign language to you and your children, but exposing individuals to diversity awareness and cultural information you may not gain anywhere else. To read more about our Instructors, visit Our Instructors page.
ASL is a beautiful language and a gift from the Deaf community, and we applaud your desire to become more involved in its usage! Check with your local community college or Continuing Education Program for contacts, visit a nearby Center providing resources and equipment for The Deaf community, and seek out the many excellent online resources for information on Deaf culture and your local Deaf community.
Through signs, babies learn that their thoughts can be conveyed symbolically. For example, a baby may think “All I have to do is touch my fingers to my lips and my parents will understand that I’m hungry!” Babies also learn that language can be used to influence others. “I can get Dad to put more crackers on my plate if I sign MORE.” Signing lets babies begin to explore and understand the basic functions of language at a very early age.
Babies can use signs to choose the topic of conversation. This allows them to direct an adult’s attention to the things they want to investigate. “All I have to do to get my parents to tell me more about airplanes is make the sign for AIRPLANE.”
In addition to giving babies an early understanding of the functions of language, signs help reinforce the meaning of spoken words, especially when both words and signs are used simultaneously.
Children in multi-lingual environments also benefit from signing. Many families use signs as a common link between two (or more) different languages spoken in the home.
No. Most babies learn to identify and then form signs quickly. The structure of ASL is compatible with the nature of language development in infants. One sign can relate an entire concept. Young children begin communicating using one-word sentences (in this case, one-gesture sentences) to express complete thoughts or needs. ASL signs are also very iconic; in many cases, the signs resemble the objects or concepts they represent. This will help both you and your child remember signs.
No. Successfully communicating with your baby does not require fluency in ASL. Rather, we recommend introducing signs that are relevant to your child’s interaction with the world. We focus our vocabulary on signs that are most commonly-used between parents and children. It is most important to be consistent while signing: identify which signs you wish to use, and use them frequently during interactions with your baby.
Research conclusively indicates that babies who sign tend to have a stronger command of verbal language and often begin speaking at an earlier age than babies who do not sign. Countless parents and caregivers have confirmed these findings with their personal experiences and observations. In addition, many Speech-Language professionals, pediatricians, and educators are supporting the use of signs to encourage early language development.
No age is too early to begin learning and modeling signs with your baby, though most babies will be physically unable to reproduce signs until the sixth to eighth month. A baby needs to develop memory, dexterity, and cognition adequate for recognizing, retaining, and producing signs. At the same time, it’s never too late to start; even toddlers who have a few spoken words can significantly benefit from signing. Learning specific signs for “ball”, “bath”, and “bottle” can help distinguish the specific word when “ba-ba” is used for all three items. Using the sign paired with the baby’s spoken sound can help reduce frustration for both you and your baby.
You should take into account the age of your child, how frequently you and other caregivers use the signs, and how interested the child is in communicating. Some parents see results within a few days, others wait several weeks, and others, months. Consistently using a few signs on a daily basis is the key to success in this program. The further along children are in their development, the sooner they may begin to produce signs.
Remember, all babies are different and they will develop along their own unique timelines. Be patient and consistent. Before long, you will experience the joy of witnessing your child’s first attempts at two-way communication.
All typically-developing babies possess the capacity to understand and reproduce signs. Gesturing is part of a baby’s natural communication process. Using standardized signs allows the baby a more specific and meaningful means of communicating. However, some babies may be unable to reproduce signs due to motor or cognitive delays. As well, some babies may just be focused on other areas of development and aren’t focusing in on their communication.
Joseph Garcia first researched the concept of learning and teaching signs to babies in 1987 as part of his Master’s Program at Alaska Pacific University. A longitudinal study was conducted at the University of California at Davis by Drs. Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn. This study, which followed babies through their eighth year, indicated that signing with babies offers many benefits, including a strengthened parent-child bond, increased interest in books, enhanced verbal language development, and higher IQs. For additional information on scientific research, please visit our Research page.
Most preschool and school-age children love signing, as it engages their minds and their bodies. They love the movement, rhythm, and flow of sign language. Pairing the fun of signing with music, activities and stories is an excellent activity for children ages 3-13. The engaging stories, fun games, and rhythm of the music, coordinated with the movement of signs, is an excellent motor coordination activity that also builds language skills. This is also an appropriate time to teach children about the diverse populations who use ASL as a primary means of communication. There is research indicating that the use of signs can assist with the development of early literacy skills. For more information, review the work of Dr. Marilyn Daniels on our Research page.
Yes. Many families use sign as the common denominator for teaching several spoken language. Signs serve as a visual representation, creating a bridge between two spoken words that sound different. Initially, as speech begins, your baby may mix various words from different languages together in one sentence. Research indicates that young children in bilingual environments eventually develop fluency in both languages. It is very unlikely that you will overwhelm your child if you incorporate multiple languages into your daily routine. Make the languages part of everything you do, and use signing to assist comprehension. Parents of foreign-born adopted children have found signing to be extremely helpful in bridging the immediate communication barrier, providing both parent and child a common, shared language.
Are there classes or workshops available to help me learn more signing with our baby or older child?
Yes. We have a variety of classes and workshops set up to assist you. All of our Instructors have met our professional standards including knowledge in child development, fluency in ASL and Deaf culture. For more information on classes in your area, please visit our Class Calendar page.
A portion of the FAQ above have been reprinted with permission from Sign2Me.