|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
FAQ
(Answered by Dr. Joseph Garcia and
reprinted with permission by Sign2Me).
1. How will sign language affect our baby’s language development?
Through signs, babies learn that their thoughts can be conveyed symbolically. For example, a baby may think: “All I have to do is touch my fingers to my lips and my parents will understand that I’m hungry!” Babies also learn that language can be used to influence others. “I can get Dad to put more crackers on my plate if I sign MORE.” Signing lets babies begin to explore and understand the basic functions of language at a very early age.
Babies can use signs to choose the topic of conversation. This allows them to direct an adult’s attention to the things they want to investigate. “All I have to do to get my parents to tell me more about airplanes is make the sign for AIRPLANE.”
In addition to giving babies an early understanding of the functions of language, signs help reinforce the meaning of spoken words, especially when words and signs are used simultaneously. Children in multi-lingual environments also benefit from signing. Many families use sign as a common link between two (or more) different languages spoken in the home.
Back to top
2. Will signing delay our baby’s speech?
Children who learn to sign during pre-speech months tend to speak sooner. A study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health showed that signing does not delay the onset of verbal speech in typically developing children. In fact, by the age of two, the children in the study who had signed were using an average of 50 more words in their spoken vocabulary than their non-signing peers. In addition to giving babies a vocabulary boost, signs play an important role in a child’s transition to speech. Communication breakdowns can be frequent when a child first starts to talk. An utterance like “buh” can mean ball, bottle, blanket or bunny! Luckily, signs give babies a way to clarify their messages while they work on mastering pronunciation
Back to top
3. Why is the SIGN with your BABY® program based on standardized Sign Language?
It makes more sense to use the signed languages that already exist throughout the world. Using a standardized language not only provides family and extended family members with a unified system of communication, it also can offer childcare providers a standardized system to better serve the needs of all children. When a family uses a made-up set of signs and gestures with their baby, it greatly lessens the chance others will know the signs.
By using American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), or the signs of a specific region, we open the doors to communicating with so many other people- and we lay the foundation for our children to continue learning and using Sign Language throughout their lives. I think Sign Language is a gift from the deaf community- and I can’t think of a better way for us to honor that gift than by using it with our children. Visit www.sign2me.com/asl.php to read a complete overview of the benefits of using standardized (ASL and BSL) sign language.
Back to top
4. Can we make up our own signs?
Even though the SIGN with your BABY® program is based on American Sign Language signs, there will always be a need for identifying special family members, friends, pets, and toys. We encourage parents to use the initialized first letter of the person or object, that you are wanting to identify, signed over the heart for recognition. Example: Aunt Mary- use the sign for Aunt and add the manual alphabet letter “M” over the heart to denote Aunt Mary. Favorite Stuffed Puppy “Barky”- use the sign for baby, add the sign for dog and then add the manual alphabet letter “B” over the heart. Giving of name signs for people or objects is the exclusive right of the deaf community and in respect, we will use the “accepted form” of assigning name signs. However, I advise you to document these “home” signs so that others who interact with your baby can learn to use and recognize them.
Back to top
5. Was this program developed for deaf children?
The SIGN with your BABY® program was developed for hearing babies and hearing parents. However, because it is based on Sign Language, SIGN with your BABY® can be useful as an initial learning tool for hearing parents with children who are deaf.
If your child is deaf or hard of hearing, we recommend that you consult with your local professionals to create an early intervention plan for your child.
Many professionals are prescribing SIGN with your BABY® for use with children who have special needs, especially those with language delays, developmental delays, Autism, Down Syndrome, or apraxia of speech.
Back to top
6. What is the optimal age to introduce signs to our baby?
I recommend that you start introducing signs any time after your baby is 6 months old. Starting earlier will not hurt your baby or the process, but it may frustrate you if your baby does not produce any signs in the first few weeks or even months. Generally, your baby will be ready to produce signs between 8 to 12 months of age. Remember, a baby needs to develop enough memory, dexterity, and cognition before he or she can start producing signs.
Back to top
7. How long will it take for our baby to start signing back to us?
That depends on several factors that I discuss in detail in the book: your child’s age, how frequently the caregivers use the signs, and how interested the child is in communicating.
The further along children are in their development, the sooner they may begin to produce signs. My research suggests that babies from 8 to 12 months of age frequently need to watch someone sign to them consistently anywhere from several days to several months before they sign back. Every child and every situation is different. Babies between the ages of 12 and 24 months may start signing within days (or weeks) after the first signs are introduced. Be patient- before long, you will experience the joy of witnessing your child’s first expressive sign.
Back to top
8. Can we introduce signing in a bilingual environment?
Many families use signs as the common denominator for teaching several spoken languages. Initially, as speech begins, your baby may mix various words from different languages together in one sentence. Research indicates that eventually young children in these environments usually straighten everything out and become fluent in several languages. It is very unlikely that you will overwhelm your child if you blend the languages within the fiber of your day using experiential learning and teaching. Make the languages part of everything you do.
Back to top
9. Why is our baby not signing even after we have been using signs for a while?
I do not advocate teaching signs to babies. I advocate augmenting your spoken language with signs giving your baby the opportunity to draw from their inner resources. Babies should observe the physical dimension signs give to language and then produce the signs when they are ready to express themselves. Force feeding signs or housing grand expectations by the parents are counterproductive to the communication process. Over-anticipating your child’s needs will also prevent your child from drawing on his/her inner resources to attempt to communicate with you after you have followed the correct process and age-appropriate timetable for signing. The SIGN with your BABY® program was developed for hearing babies and hearing parents. However, because it is based on Sign Language, SIGN with your BABY® can be useful as an initial learning tool for hearing parents with children who are deaf.
Back to top
10. What if my childcare provider doesn’t use signs?
It is important to tell your childcare providers which signs your baby knows so that they may help to meet your baby’s needs. Most childcare providers embrace the idea of communicating with babies through signs when they discover that signing greatly reduces the frustration levels for both the babies and themselves. I’m getting a lot of positive feedback from childcare providers who are using SIGN with your BABY®. They’ve indicated that the reduced frustration has resulted in an overall reduction in the noise levels within their classrooms. In many cases it has also reduced or eliminated the biting problems.
Back to top
Please tell your childcare provider to visit the ‘Childcare’ section of the SIGN with your BABY® web site at www.sign2me.com/childcare.php to obtain more information.
|
|
