The article I chose to read was Lend a Hand: Communicating with Babies Through Sign Language by Barbara Wexler. This article discussed the origins of baby signing and the benefits of it. It stated that there are two different forms of sign language that can be introduced to babies of approximately seven to eight months old. The first is the traditional American Sign Language which means that not only will you understand you baby, but so will those who speak American Sign Language. The other form is Baby Signs which is simply a series of signs that you or your baby have developed for your own personal communication needs.
I very much support the use of baby sign language because as a daycare teacher, I have seen how effective it can be. It helps to eliminate the child's frustration and can therefore eliminate the child's need to bite or become aggressive with other children. Wexler provides information about a study done by Acredolo and Goodwyn. "[This study] showed that Baby Signs helped children talk earlier and jump-started their cognitive development, which has translated into higher IQ scores. There was a 12-point gap in IQ between a group of second graders who had trained in sign as infants and a group who had not." However, the IQ increase should not be the motivation to begin sign language with your baby. Your motivation should come from an attempt to eliminate frustration and help your baby communicate their needs.
Some of the most helpful signs that I have seen babies use are:
Please
Help
Even though babies won't be able to make the signs exactly as they are in American Sign Language, they will generally make a variation of a sign that looks enough like it that you will be able to tell what your baby wants or needs. I hope that more people take Baby Sign Language into consideration because I have seen what a difference it can make in keeping a child happy.
