Helping babies tell us what’s on their minds
By Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn
Why sign language for babies?
There’s nothing more heart-wrenching than hearing a baby cry and not knowing what’s wrong. Unfortunately, until they can talk, babies are literally “at a loss for words” when it comes to telling us what’s going on and how best we can help.
Wait no more!
Now, thanks to our book Baby Signs and our research-based Baby Signs® Program, the world’s leading sign language program for babies, children from 6 months to 3 years need no longer wait until they can talk to let us know what’s on their minds. Instead, as Newsweek Magazine put it, they can learn simple “hand signals that let them communicate their joys and fears without tears.”
You’re already doing it
Signing is a very natural form of communication. In fact, it’s so natural that all parents teach their babies at least three signs-YES, NO, and BYEBYE-without even thinking about it. After two decades of research at the University of California, we now know that these three signs are just the tip of the iceberg. Babies are eager to learn many, many more signs to let us know what they need, what they see, what they feel, and even what they remember. What parents wouldn’t want such a priceless window into their baby’s mind?
The research behind the program
But won’t signing slow down learning to talk? The answer is a resounding “No!” In fact, just as crawling is a helpful precursor to walking, signing is a helpful precursor to talking. We’ve proven this to be the case with a longterm study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Far from hindering language development, babies in the Baby Signs® Program actually learned to talk sooner. We also discovered that this advantage continued over time in the form of higher IQs at age 8.
The most important benefits
Our research has also revealed even more important benefits for emotional development. Once your baby begins signing you’ll see for yourself how the ability to use signs makes daily life with your baby easier and sweeter. Specifically, using signs. . .
- decreases frustration, tantrums, and tears;
- enables your baby to share his or her world with you;
- strengthens the parent-infant bond;
- helps you recognise just how clever your baby is; and
- promotes the development of self-confidence and self-esteem.
A gift to last a lifetime
It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s a wonderful way to support your baby’s development. By helping your baby communicate effectively so early in life, you are laying a foundation of love and learning that will last a lifetime.
Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn are internationally recognised scholars whose ground-breaking research demonstrating the positive effects of signing on infant development has sparked a world-wide movement. They are authors of the best-selling book Baby Signs: How to Talk With Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk and co-founders of the Baby Signs Institute through which they provide Sign, Say & Play™ classes, Parent Workshops, and high-quality products to make every family’s signing experience a success. For more information, visit www.babysigns.com .
