Why children should learn to sign
In light of short film The Silent Child scooping an Oscar, we look at the importance of children learning to sign
Author Joe Jacobs was overwhelmed when Maisie Sly, the profoundly deaf four-year-old star of Oscar-winning The Silent Child, thanked him in person for the sign language books he?s written for children. Like Rachel Shenton, the ex-Hollyoaks actress who wrote the film script, Joe wants sign language to be recognised and taught in schools. He puts forward five reasons why all children should learn to sign.
Fewer tantrums
?Babies taught to sign can communicate with you months before they say their first word,? says Joe.? That reduces their frustration, gives you an insight into their world, and strengthens the bond between parent and baby.? Physically, it makes perfect sense: ?The arm and hand muscles needed to sign develop more quickly than the muscles in the mouth and larynx required for speech.?
Speak sooner
The trend for hearing parents using sign language to communicate with hearing children began with baby-signing in the 1970s. ?Studies show that babies who sign will learn to speak sooner, so long as you say the words as you sign them and your baby can see your face. The evidence also suggests that children who learn to sign have a larger verbal vocabulary.?
IQ boost
Psychologists Dr Linda Acredolo and Dr Susan Goodwyn have conducted one of the largest studies into the benefits of baby signing. ?Observing 140 families over two years, they found that at ...
Source:
littlelondonmagazine
URL:
http://www.littlelondonmagazine.co.uk/
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