Children who cannot express themselves are automatically more vulnerable than those who can. The implications of self-expression make it vital to the development of children. It plays a major role in growing physically and emotionally mature adults. Baby Sign Language can help parents and caregivers promote self-expression in children. Join me as we explore how in this article.
Ways To Help Children Express Themselves Through Baby Sign Language
Don’t Make It About You
It’s easy to get carried away with wanting your child to learn baby sign language that you make it all about you and forget that it’s about the child.
Your eagerness should not put too much pressure on your child so much that they are no longer looking forward to these lessons.
Instead, take the learning process and the sharing of the experience at the child’s pace, however slow or fast it might be. If possible, let them know before you tell others about their learning experiences.
Use What They Love
Now that you have agreed to go through step one which is making it about your child, the next way to help your child express themselves through baby sign language is to utilize their likes and interests.
Does your child love dancing? Teach them movement signs in baby sign language first before anything else. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/collage-photo-of-woman-3812743/
For parents with bigger kids, it might be easier to tell what your child likes because their acceptance and rejection might be obvious. I don’t mean that parents with smaller kids should let this deter them. There are still ways that you can find out what your small baby likes.
It wouldn’t be wise for you to make a child who hates drawing learn sign language by drawing the signs. You will frustrate that child as well as yourself. But imagine a child who is always happy once he or she sees you with a pen and paper, you will already know what to do.
Utilizing your child’s likes and interests helps the lesson stick faster and deeper.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
Teach Emotions
Self-expression majorly deals with one’s ability to portray (outwardly) what one is feeling on the inside. When emotions like anger, sadness, love, happiness, fear, etc. are the first things a child learns in baby sign language, it becomes easier for them to be understood.
Once children see that their emotions are not downplayed, they express themselves even better.
Your Child Should Get to Decide the Mode of Learning
Note: This is Particularly Helpful for Bigger kids:
I guess you are wondering what this has to do with self-expression. The truth is that making your child choose the mode of learning plays a big role in their self-expression.
Once in a while, when children are made to be in charge, their real selves come into play.
Warning⚠️: This approach is applicable for not-so-serious matters.
In this case, baby sign language isn’t going to ‘adversely’ affect your child’s future. So, why not? There’s nothing wrong in letting children come up with some funny ideas for baby sign language lessons. You’ll be shocked by what they come up with.
Why Children Should Learn to Express Themselves Early in Life
Photo by Dasha
SELF-EXPRESSION is incredibly vital for children at an early age because it:
Opens Their Minds
The more children express themselves, the more creative they become. Since self-expression has made it possible for them to put their feelings out there and get them out of the way, children can focus on other things. Permit me to say, their childlikeness blossoms. This means that they are open to more exploration and are even more curious.
Strengthens Their Independence
Self-expression is what makes it possible for a child to know when or not they need their parents. Some parents might want to mourn the loss of their child’s dependence on them, but the earlier a child gets independent, the better.
Take a look at confident, happy children around you. One thing they have in common is their ability to express themselves.
Helps Them Communicate/Develop Relationships
The bane of communication is being understood. Self-expression makes it easier for others to understand you as an individual. Children who can express themselves choose their friends and do not let their friends choose them. What this means is that they are not easily intimidated. They can easily decide if they want to stick with a particular person or group.
Now You Know This, WHAT COMES NEXT?
Always Make It Fun
As far as they are children, everything is about fun and laughter.
Baby sign language is no different. Create jokes from the signs; make funny faces. After all, I am sure there are some of the signs you have found ridiculous and wondered why they are the way they are. Share your thoughts with your children and let them do the same.
Reward Your Child’s Effort
With positive reinforcements, your child will not want to stop learning baby sign language. Today, some people who learned ASL are those who learned baby sign language and got addicted to it (in a good way). Now, they use it in their daily lives, teach others the language, and some others go as far as learning the culture to become a part of the deaf community.
Involve Others
Allow your child to be part of tether a deaf community or ASL-learning community around you. If that seems like too big a step, look for others your child’s age who are also learning baby sign language and encourage group activities.
Family members can join in helping you teach your child baby sign language. Why should you be the only teacher?
As an African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Finally,
You are on the right track if you want to use baby sign language to promote self-expression in your child. stay on it by not making it about yourself, teach emotions as one of the first lessons, and pay attention to utilizing what your child likes. You can check out this post by Michael Alison Chandler and see how baby sign language is gaining popularity. But more importantly, I will be happy if you can go right on to teaching your child baby sign language with these helpful resources here.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Liliana Drew
