CO MM U N IT Y
ASL HELPS PARENTS
COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR BABIES
BY ADRIENNE KING, M.S.ED
Signing with your baby is the idea of using Sign Language,
American Sign Language (ASL), or manual sign systems to
support communication with babies and toddlers. The idea is that
when parents and caregivers use signs with babies, the babies will
start to learn the signs and use them to communicate as well.
Babies will use the signs to support their communication, not to
replace spoken language. Many parents have found this form of
communication to be beneficial. Here’s more information about
baby ASL:
Q:
It is cute to see a baby signing, but what is the point? Is
there a benefit? Research has shown that babies develop the
ability to move their hands (i.e. the ability to produce signs) much earlier
than they develop their vocal processes (i.e. the ability to produce words
or speak). On average, babies start speaking at about 10 to 12 months of
age, but start signing at about 8 to 10 months. By providing babies with
the tools necessary for this manual communication, babies will be able to
offer their parents, families and caregivers insight into what they need and
want earlier than they would be able to talk. This provides a huge benefit
to families. Babies can use signs to communicate exactly what they need
before they become frustrated and cry or melt down. The time used signing
and the lack of frustration for parent and child also helps promote bonding.
Babies that sign often have larger vocabularies at a younger age and there
are some preliminary findings that IQ scores are positively affected.
Q:
Will this delay my daughter’s speech? I want her to talk,
too! Research by Goodwyn, Acredolo, and Brown (2000) shows
that babies that sign actually speak sooner and with larger vocabularies.
Using ASL is using language, so you are starting her language production
sooner. By the time your daughter is able to start speaking, she will already
know so many words and concepts from signing that when she begins to
speak her language development will already be ahead.
Q:
Is this just a new fad? No, researchers such as Dr. Joseph
Garcia and Dr. Linda Acredolo have been studying the effects
of using sign language with hearing children since the 1980s. Some of
their programs and curricula have been taught since then. There are also
accounts that say this concept goes back to a researcher in the 1800s that
noticed Deaf children with Deaf parents were signing to their parents
and able to communicate much earlier and with larger vocabularies than
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FREDERICK COUNTY GUIDE | SPRING 2016
hearing children with hearing parents at the same age. This phenomenon
went largely unstudied until the 1970s.
Q:
There are so many books and programs options out
there, which one do I choose? There are a lot of programming
options. The Frederick area is a great place to see and learn American
Sign Language, (ASL) which is a full, natural language. Using a natural
language like ASL with your child offers him the opportunity to have a
base to build on later if he decides to continue to learn later in life and
become bilingual. There are invented sign language programs for babies,
such as Baby Signs, but these could be confusing if your child sees other
signs in the community or if you are looking for more signs in various
resources. Finding a program that specifically teaches in ASL is usually
the best option.
Q:
Where can I find a class locally? There are classes running
now through Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts’ Language Lab series.
Language Lab: Baby ASL – has registration online or in the store, located
on Patrick Street in Downtown Frederick. There are often classes at the
local libraries or through Maryland School for the Deaf. The best way to
find the classes is on Frederick calendars and online. Go to the Programs
& Events tab at dbeartoys.com.
Are there online resources? Yes, www.signingtime.com is a
great resource. Also look for that company’s CDs and DVDs at the
public library carries. Sign2Me is Joseph Garcia’s company that started
developing baby signing materials in the 1980s. Another great website for
looking up individual signs is www.lifeprint.com, which has a dictionary
with pictures and video clips for parents. www.ASLnook.com is a website
created by a Deaf family that shows great videos of their young daughters
signing.
Q:
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Adrienne King, M.S. Ed. is a Maryland State Certified
teacher in Deaf Education, Special Education and Dance.
She has 20 years of teaching experience with ASL, parent
education, early childhood education, literacy and dance.
She is currently working on teaching her curriculum
integrating movement and literacy in an outreach capacity.