Have you ever admired the interaction between twin babies? They can look so cute with their smiles, and matching outfits. However, being a good parent of multiple can be an uphill battle.
The amount of time that twins or triplets will take from their parents is staggering. Many parents have admitted to needing help from other adults, especially in the early days of having more than a single child.
However, as the parents adapt to their new life, things become better, and eventually, parents are known to say that raising those children is the best thing they have done with their lives.
There is one way to make raising multiples even better; teach them baby sign language. Teaching one-child baby sign language is great, but teaching more than one child is even greater.
So, join me as we look at the benefits of using baby sign language with multiples.
The Unique Situation of Raising Multiples
Expecting parents are told that having a child changes them forever, and no group feels the blow of that change like parents of multiples. You would expect the demand of two children to be simply more than that of one child. You would be wrong.
The demand children exert on their parents increases in multiples. That means a set of twins might need four times the attention a single child might need.
There is a lot of stress on both parents, especially the mother. The simple complication of breastfeeding more than one child is enough to make any mother look like a soldier returning from war.
There is also the complication of keeping the children safe, from external harm and from harm that they can inflict on themselves.
With all these things in mind, a parent can forget to pay attention to the children’s emotional and mental development.
One other thing that multiples have in common is their communication. They are always together so they learn to share thoughts and ideas. This can be a challenge for parents especially when the children become active.
However, a parent with the right set of tools can turn their children’s desire to communicate with each other into something profound. Enter, baby sign language.
Benefits of Baby Sign Language With Multiples
There are many benefits of teaching a child’s baby sign language, which carry into multiples. There are a couple of unique advantages multiples get from being able to communicate effectively with themselves and their parents. Let’s take a look at a few.
A Better Relationship
Onlookers usually admire the communication between twins and triplets. This ability to communicate freely and almost telepathically has been the bedrock of many studies in the past.
With baby sign language, a parent can get their children to communicate more effectively with each other. With better communication, the children will get closer. They will find a special bond with each other very early.
Imagine having a set of twins and you walk into their room with one telling the other they want milk. It would make any parent proud to see that their children communicate with each other.
So, consider teaching your multiple children sign language, because it becomes a shared experience and they become the best siblings they can be.
Emotional Development
When raising multiples, emotional development can be a shot in the dark. After all, as a parent you might be too busy keeping the children fed, clean, and physically healthy. This can make you ignore signs of emotional troubles and assume that everything can be solved with a clean diaper and a warm bottle of milk.
Meanwhile, your children are growing into the complex humans they are meant to be. With that complexity comes a need to be heard and understood. If they feel they aren’t being understood, they will lash out either by crying or throwing tantrums.
The only way to help your children develop at the right pace is to understand them and there is no better way to understand your child than baby sign language. If you can teach your children baby sign language you will get a glimpse into their world and understand their emotional state.
Better Speech Development
The first babble of babies is a sign of great things to come. It means that the babies see their voices as a way to communicate and are trying to do it the best they can.
With baby sign language, that babbling will have extra meaning. Research has shown that babies who are taught baby sign language end up developing speech better than those who don’t.
So, consider using baby sign language to improve the speech of your children. With multiples, the advantage is even higher. The babies can practice with each other and get a better hang of what their parents are teaching them.
Eventually, when the time to speak comes, the children will have a clearer understanding of language than babies who were never exposed to baby sign language.
Photo by Becerra Govea Photo
Safety
Everyone wants their child to be safe and parents of multiples aren’t any different. Children’s safety is a major reason for many of the legislations surrounding parenting and education.
Baby sign language is another tool that can help your children stay safe as they interact with each other and the world.
With the tool for effective communication, a twin can gesture to a parent when the other twin has had a fall. A child can tell a parent that they are having a tummy ache or hurt. A child can say when they are cold, or hot.
Knowing what a child is feeling can help a parent keep that child safe and that isn’t any different for parents of multiples. Knowing what is wrong is a superpower every parent of multiples would want to have. Well, that power is available and it is called baby sign language.
Multiple Steps
As a parent, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by providing for your children. They need more than food and warmth. They need to tell you and each other things. Give your twins or triplets the tools to realize their unique potential. Give them baby sign language.
You don’t need to look far to find where to start. Start with me. Unspoken Language Services is here to help you discover effective communication methods with your children. I am ready to make you the best parent you can be.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Pixabay
