Many reasons can be listed as reasons why your child should learn sign language. These reasons include reduced risk of harming deaf children, improved temperament, and higher IQ. Read on to learn more. Listed below are the most common reasons that a child should learn sign language. This article will address each of them in more detail. However, if you are unsure about the benefits of sign language for children, we encourage you to start small and build up from there.
Reduces risk of harm to deaf children
While the vast majority of infants born deaf have hearing parents, many of them are apprehensive about signing. They might even view signing as inferior, or something they can teach their child later. This is unhelpful because sign language is linguistically complex, just like spoken language. Whether parents view signing as a last resort or a natural option for their children depends on their perspective, but a common misconception about deafness is that sign language is not as sophisticated as spoken language.
Limited communication has been linked to many harmful consequences, including high rates of mental and physical disorders, incarceration, and poor health. Additionally, linguistic deprivation is associated with a higher risk of participating in criminal activities. These deaf individuals often cannot defend themselves against criminal accusations. Additionally, deaf people who lack language skills are often forced to live in institutions, and this affects their ability to participate in society productively. Unfortunately, despite efforts to improve the quality of life for deaf people, the medical community still has a long way to go before it acknowledges the harms of language deprivation.
In addition to reducing the risk of harm to deaf children, studies show that language exposure supports healthy language development. When children are exposed to language in the early years of life, their executive functioning skills, which guide their learning and behavior, develop. These skills are crucial for a child’s overall development, and early exposure to language will help them achieve them. These skills, which are largely visual, are crucial in everyday life and can help them become better adults.
While learning sign language does not affect the chances of deaf children learning spoken languages, it is important for hearing parents of deaf children to learn a new language. Parents of deaf children may have mixed advice about whether sign language training has any effect on children’s learning of spoken languages. One study by Humphries et al. found that deaf children were no less motivated to learn spoken languages than hearing children.
Improves temperament
It may sound like an impossible goal: teaching your child sign language could help your child be more well-behaved. After all, every baby is unique and has a unique personality. So, to avoid triggering a temper tantrum, try to find out what your baby likes to do. Then, try to reinforce learning signs associated with these preferences. Post relevant flash cards on the wall, and let your baby point to a sign whenever he or she gets frazzled. In fact, a lot of parents report that this has reduced the number of temper tantrums their babies throw.
Improves IQ
There is growing evidence that learning sign language can increase IQ. Signing instruction can help babies express themselves and improve their spatial reasoning, a crucial component of math and science. The ability to process complex spatial information is essential for creativity and problem solving in all areas of life. Children with an ASL proficiency scored significantly higher on standardized tests than those who did not learn it. Likewise, children who have had early sign language exposure showed an improved IQ by age 8.
Researchers have studied native signers of ASL and found that their IQs were up to 98 points higher than those of non-signers. Signing, in particular, has been shown to improve cognitive function, creativity, and brain function. Those benefits are particularly noticeable for children. Additionally, children who learned ASL as a preschooler improved their vocabulary by up to 12 points. However, it is unclear how these benefits work in everyday life.
Reduces frustration
One of the best things about teaching your child sign language is the way it reduces frustration for both of you. By using simple, familiar signs, your child can communicate his or her needs without causing you any frustration. A less frustrated child is a happier child, and this can only be good for you both. Children may find it difficult to learn to read or spell the alphabets, but sign language hand symbols resemble those shapes and sizes, making them intellectually helpful.
Aside from reducing frustration for you and your child, signing also builds a more positive bonding between you and your child. You and your child will be able to communicate better with each other when you understand each other. The process of learning to sign will involve a lot of repetition and consistency, but the rewards will be worth it. And remember to have fun! As with all parenting methods, consulting with a pediatrician should always be a first step before beginning a sign language program.
When your child learns sign language, you will be able to communicate with them more effectively. It will also help them learn the ABCs and spelling. It will also make it easier to teach them about their feelings. Signing can help them express themselves better, which will help them cope better with their emotional challenges. It can help them get the attention they need to succeed in school. And, as a parent, you will be able to spend more time with them.
Early sign language training helps to develop motor skills, which will be helpful later on in life. Babies can begin to communicate vital information through sign language before they can speak. It helps parents build a stronger bond and improve a child’s self-esteem. Signing will also reduce tantrums and anger. If your child starts learning sign language during its first year, he or she will be able to express himself or herself better and will benefit from it in the long run.