Wouldn’t it be remarkable if you could hear your baby’s thoughts? I know I would love such a superpower. Communication between parents and preverbal children is mostly guesswork. There are no clear cues for adults to follow when communicating with preverbal kids.
The desire to communicate with children was the driving force for the discovery of baby sign language. The earliest record of research into baby sign language was seen in the 19th century. William Dwight Whitney observed that children with deaf parents were communicating with their parents at six months.
However, the real breakthrough in baby sign language came in the 1980s. Dr. Joseph Garcia made a discovery similar to William Whitney’s in the 1800’s. He also noticed that children of deaf parents were making signs at six months.
Fast-forward to modern times, when baby sign language is more popular than at any other time in history. Teaching children sign language must have benefits for it to be so popular. I want to share these benefits with you. So, join me in taking a look.
Preverbal Children
Photo by Pixabay
You might’ve heard preverbal for a long time, but what does it mean to have a preverbal child? Well, preverbal children are children that aren’t old enough to speak. They might be making sounds but the sounds don’t translate to speaking.
Children might be easily frustrated at the preverbal stage when trying to communicate. They are also getting a better hang of the world around them so, they will be testing boundaries in any way possible.
It is vital to remember that these children have needs and they will want to relate these needs to their parents. This can cause frustration and even make the children rely on tantrums.
Preverbal children might have a wider set of motor skills and understanding of the world around them when compared to infants but they lack the most common way of communicating with that world and that is through speech.
So, they are thrown into a world they know little about and are ill-equipped to give feedback.
This is where baby sign language comes in. It has many benefits and that is what we will look at next.
Benefits of Baby Sign Language to Preverbal Children
There are many benefits of baby sign language, however, I will focus on benefits that affect preverbal children.
Improved Speech
Preverbal children have more complex lives than infants yet they are as handicapped in communication as infants. These children are usually on the cusp of developing speech, and the concept of communication needs to start from somewhere.
Enter, baby sign language. With baby sign language, preverbal children have a first taste of language even if rudimentary. However, this will help them in speech development because they will understand that communication goes beyond crying and tantrums.
Emotional Growth
Imagine you are in a place where everyone makes sounds around you and these sounds are understood. However, when you try to make a sound, it seems like your lips are sealed with duct tape.
That is how preverbal children feel when they see people talk around them and they can’t join in.
Such a feeling can lead to outbursts. However, with baby sign language, preverbal children can have basic conversations with their parents and those around them.
Cognitive Development
Every parent wants their child to develop at a pace that is normal for their age. I am sure you do too. Well, teaching your preverbal child baby sign language, is one way to develop your child’s reasoning.
Some research has shown a higher IQ in babies who learn sign language in comparison to children who were never exposed to communicating through gestures. Your child can develop better spatial awareness, better attention which they will need in school, and better memory.
Of course, the level of cognitive development will be dependent on the child. So, while baby sign language will help, it won’t be the only factor that influences your child’s final IQ. Still, teaching your child baby sign language won’t hurt their IQ either.
Bonding With Parents
Have you ever wondered if there are more ways to boost your bonding process with your child? Baby sign language might just be the tool you need for that.
When a child can communicate effectively with a parent, especially a preverbal child, you will notice that the child has a lot to say. Baby sign language has been seen as a way to develop a culture of having inside jokes with your child.
Think of a child who knows the sign for milk and uses the sign regularly. How much excitement will feeding time be if the parent does a little dance before delivering the milk? While onlookers might be confused by the performance, the star of the show, the baby will understand it and possibly laugh and applause. This is how a parent forms a deeper bond with a child.
Self Confidence
We know, at least, I know, that the world can be tough, and the more prepared our children are for such a world, the higher their chances of finding excellence in anything they do.
One of the early steps you can take in preparing your child for challenges is building their confidence. And what better way to build a child’s self-confidence than to teach them baby sign language when they are preverbal?
Research has shown that children who learn baby sign language tend to have higher confidence than their peers. So, consider baby sign language for your preverbal baby. That might be the first step in raising a future president.
Finally
Preverbal children are usually at the cusp of interacting completely with the world, however, they cannot speak. Equipping your preverbal child with baby sign language will be of great benefit to the child.
Your next question might be how to get started with teaching your child baby sign language. Well, that is where I come in. Learn sign language with me and with my Unspoken Language Services, I’ll provide you with interpreting services that will equip you with all you need to teach your child baby sign language.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Pixabay
