“I’ve heard that signing delays speech. Are you concerned?”
“He’s only a child. Why push him?”
“We tried that, but it just doesn’t work.”
“We already speak two languages in our home, so I don’t want to confuse my daughter.”
Truth be told, I like it when people question what we’re doing. It challenges me to stay current on the research, and it reminds me of all the reasons I believe in what we do. Demystifying the idea of using sign language with babies and children is yet another way to encourage parents on their path to creating strong bonds with their kids. The benefits of signing are endless, and I’ve seen family after family thrive in their ability to communicate with their children at an early age.
So let’s take a look at the most common myths of signing with babies and children:
Myth #1: Using Sign Language Delays Speech
Not only do signing babies speak earlier, but research indicates they have higher IQ scores – by an average of twelve points at age eight. Why? When you sign with a child, you also say the word out loud. Parents who sign tend to verbalize words more often than parents who do not sign: “Do you want MILK? MILK? Here is your MILK.” Children who hear words repeatedly will themselves repeat them.
Myth #2: He’s Already Talking Now; It’s too Late.
Even when children are in the early stages of verbalizing, they cannot say complete, clear sentences. The act of learning to fluently talk is a long process. But babies and children do have clear thoughts and sentences that they want to articulate. Gross motor skills develop before the fine motor skills involved in phonetic actions (moving tongues and mouths in the proper way to create speech). Babies can communicate with their hands before they are verbally capable of articulating their thoughts. Is BaBa means Ball? Bath? Bunny? So, if your son or daughter is starting to form vowels and consonants into words, signing will help them be precise.
Myth #3: We Are Pushing Our Kids Too Much.
Signing is one of the most instinctive things that kids do – naturally. Think about what babies do to communicate their needs before they can talk. When they want you to look at something, they point. When they want to be picked up, they longingly put their arms in the air. Sign Language simply fleshes out natural tendencies and gives them more options to communicate in a way that’s developmentally possible. It’s not as if kids are learning a complex ancient Roman language using flashcards and rote memory! Signing is simple and it’s natural.
Myth #4: Sign Language is Hard!
Signing with hearing babies and children is different than signing with someone who is deaf. Although both situations use American Sign Language, when we sign with hearing children, we are only using the key word or words in the sentence (this is a fantastic way to develop literacy skills). Signing is one of the easiest languages to learn. Take it from me; I’ve had the chance to learn four different languages with four different alphabets. The words are iconic and make sense. The sign for MILK, for example, looks like you’re milking a cow. Even very young children can remember several different signs.
Myth #5: It’s Not A Good Use of Time (Something I have so little of!)
Signing has emotional and social benefits that can make your overall experience as a parent much more positive. Signing with your child can be a fun part of your daily life, just like everything else you do with your child. It provides the best of all worlds – a meaningful way to communicate, a game-like activity to do together, an informal teaching tool, and a means to building a close bond from early on.
I still hear comments and questions like these, although fewer now that signing has become more mainstream. Just a few years ago, people were puzzled about signing with babies and children. Some even thought that my daughter was deaf when I signed with her in public. Gladly, today, Sign Language has proven itself an amazing tool to communicate with hearing babies and children. And because of that, the resources, the press and the support continue to grow with each passing day.
Understanding your child and being understood as a parent are at the core of any meaningful relationship, so I applaud your efforts as you learn and teach this beautiful language!