Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Here is an interesting article in the Minneapolis MN Star Tribune about signing and young children. I have done some of this with the infants in my care and it is amazing how much they can learn to communicate before speaking.
First words come earlier, thanks to sign language
More child care providers are teaching baby sign language because they appreciate the benefits of babies who can communicate through gestures.
Sarah Moran, Star Tribune
Last update: October 17, 2006 – 10:00 AM
Babies are calmer, happier and quieter.
Toddlers cut back on temper tantrums, crying and whining. So what's the magic measure? Sign language, baby style.Baby sign started taking off around the turn of the millennium, and now it's gaining ground in early childhood centers and neighborhood daycare as more people see the benefits. Take a look at the toddlers snacking at New Horizon daycare in Lakeville.
"Can you say 'crackers, please'?" asks a teacher. Two-year-old Jake Schmidt makes a quick circular motion around his chest, signing "please" and saying it at the same time. The teacher asks the kids to say banana, and 2-year-old Landon Grahek smiles and says "amana" while doing the sign that mimics peeling an imaginary banana in the air.
Andria Simpson's two youngest daughters learned baby sign at the center. When 5-year-old Alexa was a baby, she did a sign one Friday with which Simpson wasn't familiar. That Sunday Alexa went to the doctor with a fever, and it turned out she had an ear infection. Simpson found out that Alexa had been signing "medicine."When we were going to put [8-month-old] Leah back in daycare, one of the things we looked at was the fact that they did teach sign," she said.
About five years ago, Minnesota-based New Horizon incorporated baby sign in all its locations. Four years ago, Especially For Children formalized baby sign at all its daycare centers.
"It does seem to be more popular now and is gaining popularity," said Priscilla Williams, Especially for Children president. "I don't want to give the impression that it's essential to a child's development. It's one of many things that promotes language development and brain development and is exciting for children because they gain self confidence."
Little effort, big impact
Teachers at both companies start using sign during daily routines when babies are about 6 months old. So every time a diaper is changed or a bottle is given, the teacher says the words and signs for "diaper change" or "milk." As babies get older, more signs are introduced, such as "cracker" and "help." Pictures decorate the classrooms and continue to build children's sign vocabulary.More awareness about the benefits means parents shopping for child care are starting to ask whether centers teach sign language, said Denise Meyer, an infant and toddler sign language instructor.
"Parents are demanding it, and I think that has fueled the desire both by family child care facilities and centers," she said. "Relatively little effort can have a huge impact on children's development."
Chad Dunkley, president of the Minnesota ChildCare Association, agreed there is a trend. "Really, now all good programs should be incorporating infant sign language," he said. "The research is clear and supportive."
A developmental boon
Professionals cite many benefits:
• Sign language stimulates both hemispheres of the brain because motor skills and language are working at the same time.
• Babies can make hand movements earlier than they can speak, so they can communicate their needs earlier, reducing frustration.
• Successful communication builds bonds and self-esteem for everyone involved, whether it's a teacher, parent, sibling or another baby.
• Verbal skills are stronger for children who learned sign language.
• A new generation of kids will be able to communicate better with their hearing-impaired peers.Vincent Kiteley is director of sales and marketing for Sign2Me, a Seattle company that sells baby sign products such as books, DVDs and flash cards. He said business nearly doubles every year as awareness grows. Around 800 centers are considered members of Sign2Me, Kiteley said. "That's growing rapidly."
Sarah Johnson cares for 10- to 16-month-olds at Lakeville's New Horizon. "It really does help," she said. "They can sign when they want more and can sign when they're finished rather than throwing a plate across the room."
