Many people promote learning to sign with your baby as an intermediate step before the baby learns to communicate verbally. They claim that while babies are in this in-between stage, they often want to communicate but have no means to do so, which can cause undue frustration. This, in turn, can lead to tantrums or other behavioral problems. If they learn to sign, on the other hand, they can much more easily communicate their needs, and both parents and babies will be a lot less disturbed.
Remember that before they are too many months old, babies often begin using their own gestures to indicate desires. And these gestures are, in effect, already sign languages, albeit primitive ones. Just think of when the baby reaches their arms up to you, and you recognize that as a sign that they want to be picked up. That is already one sign they know. You can sign with your baby and teach them many more gestures they can use to indicate other desires. The fact that a baby can wave “bye bye” or ask to be picked up demonstrates that using signs for communication purposes is something they can already do.
The actual research into the benefits of teaching baby sign language is just beginning, but so far it appears to be promising. A few American research teams, led by L.P. Acredolo and S.W. Goodwyn, have produced some very interesting results. These seem to suggest that learning sign language helps babies increase their mental development, reduce problem behaviors, eventually acquire larger vocabularies, and improve relationships between parents and babies. Thus far, it seems that learning a baby sign language is very likely to improve life for the child even after he or she grows older and begins speaking.
This isn’t to say that if you sign with your baby, your child will automatically grow up to be some kind of genius. While baby signing will certainly not produce any detrimental effects in their life, it might have long-lasting positive results as they grow up. However, the immediate benefits are what you’re looking for right now, which is to improve your baby’s ability to communicate, and your ability to understand him or her. What’s important is that both you and baby will be happier right now.
Joanna has been writing articles for online and offline publications for over 5 years. Visit her newest websites at http://www.perfectdietplan.com/ to find reviews on the easiest ways to lose weight and http://www.weightlossnewbies.com/ for helpful articles and tips on losing weight and healthy dieting.