Beyond Baby Talk

By Gina Lewis

Six-month-old Tyler begins screaming and crying. It is time for his bottle, but his bottle isn’t warm yet. While he waits for the bottle to warm, his father comforts him by saying, “Yes, it is time for milk. Your milk is almost ready. Daddy is fixing your milk.” Each time he says the word “milk,” he performs the American Sign Language sign for “milk.” As Tyler watches his father sign, he grows quiet. Seeming to understand that his father is getting what he wants, Tyler seems content to wait.

Ten-month-old Lucy has been fussy all day. Her mother has tried to calm her with food, milk, diaper changes, rocking, and toys, but nothing seems to help. As she watches her daughter cry, she suddenly notices that Lucy is signing pain next to her left ear. The mother immediately calls the doctor for an appointment. She asks the doctor to test Lucy’s left ear, and the doctor finds that Lucy has an ear infection.

Fifteen-month-old Leila comes to her grandmother and signs potty. Grandmother says, “Oh, you need to go potty? All right, let’s go potty.” She signs the word “potty” each time she says it. Grandmother takes Leila to the bathroom and sets her on the potty. Leila begins to tinkle. Grandmother smiles and says, “Good job, Leila! You are going potty.”

Twenty-two-month-old Jose is playing with a ball. Twenty-four-month-old Raven watches nearby. Suddenly Raven tries to take the ball out of Jose’s hands. Jose looks upset but signs to Raven, No. My turn. Raven looks at Jose and turns away to play with another toy.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know what your baby is thinking? Not only would you be better able to meet his or her needs, but you would also have a precious early glimpse into your child’s personality and interests. Your preverbal infant could initiate a conversation with you. Your toddler could use his signs instead of his fists or his teeth to settle disagreements. Your young child could talk to you in church or at a wedding without disturbing everyone around you.

All of these scenarios can be a reality for you and your child with the use of sign language. More and more parents and caregivers are discovering the numerous benefits of using American Sign Language to communicate with their preverbal infants and young hearing children. The scenarios described above reflect just a few of the benefits parents have experienced. Additionally, there is a wide body of professional research that has documented numerous benefits to signing with hearing children.
If you are interested in learning to sign with your child, you might be surprised at how easy it is to get started. Even if you have had no previous experience with American Sign Language (ASL), resources and training are available to help you begin this wonderful journey in a very short period of time. It is important to have an appropriate understanding of the process, effective strategies, and realistic expectations. There are many quality resources available to guide you, but you may find that your best guide will be a knowledgeable person or group who can offer you ongoing support and advice.

As you look for resources, it is important to know that not all resources (even those that claim to be “based on ASL”) will teach you signs that are truly taken from American Sign Language. Research all resources thoroughly to ensure that you have an accurate understanding of what you are learning and teaching your child. I strongly recommend that you select resources committed to teaching true ASL signs. ASL is the third most common language in the United States, so true ASL signs will benefit you and your child in a wide variety of contexts. Research has indicated that young children prefer the use of a standardized sign system like ASL to the use of gestures and pantomime, and some of the documented benefits of using a standardized sign system with hearing children have not been proven to apply to the use of invented gestures and pantomime. Additionally, learning a true second language will foster appreciation for another culture in your family.

Whether your baby is in utero, six months old, two years old, or eight years old, it is never too early or too late to consider sharing the beauty of sign language in your home. Why wait to communicate? Start now!

Gina Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and is a certified Presenter for the International Sign2Me® Network. She is a professional educator on the use of American Sign Language with hearing children and offers workshops, classes, and customized training for parents, families, and early childhood educators. She also teaches children of all ages, from infancy through high school, and enjoys incorporating sign language whenever she can. For more information on signing with hearing children, email her or call her at (256)541-0194.

Benefits of using sign language with young hearing children

• Promotes a healthy bond between child and caregiver
• Allows the caregiver a glimpse into the child’s thoughts, feelings, interests, and personality
• Reduces guesswork in determining a child’s needs
• Reduces frustration by empowering the child to communicate
• Promotes fine motor skill development
• Allows a diverse approach to language education, incorporating visual and kinesthetic elements in addition to auditory input
• May encourage the child to begin speaking earlier by providing a solid foundation in linguistic concepts
• Promotes interest in communication and books
• Promotes healthy language and literacy development
• Promotes a healthy appreciation of another culture and language
• Can be a valuable tool for promoting communication skills in children with a variety of special needs

Recommended Resources

http://sign2me.com/profile.php?ID=2079
Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacy by Dr. Marilyn Daniels
Baby Sign Language Basics by Monta Briant