About baby sign language

Using baby sign language with your child has many advantages, including:

• creating a stronger bond with your child

• earlier communication

• clearer communication

• larger vocabulary

• decrease in tantrums

• increased wellbeing

• supports literacy development

But how can using baby sign language do all these things?

Language development is complex, but each of the points described above supports the point below... Let's take a closer look at each point.

Stronger Bond with your Child

Learning baby sign language to use with your child gives you additional skills in communicating with your baby and also gives a focus on engagement (eye contact, touch, speech) which then supports you to really connect with your baby in every way possible.

Earlier Communication

The research is actually in debate about whether babies "talk" early if they learning baby sign language, but it certainly does support earlier communication. 

As an interpreter, I want to be clear here - out of a deep respect for Deaf communities around the globe - sign language is not easier to learn than spoken language. Sign languages (because there are many different sign languages all over the world) are beautifully complex languages that children learn and master at the same rate as any spoken language.

Baby sign language is about providing visual cues and gestures to support communication development. Gestures are a natural part of language development. Baby sign language simply gives us adults the skills to harness this natural ability that babies have to support them to thrive in their language learning.

Clearer Communication

Have you ever not understood what your baby/toddler is saying? Do some of their words sound the same? (Fingers and Finish are two that my little miss 18 month old says that are indistinguishable!) 

Baby sign language is wonderful in helping us understand our little people while their spoken language skills are fine tuned. (Little Miss 18mo uses the sign FINISH to help me understand her - and contexts helps a lot too!)

Larger Vocabulary

There is some research that shows that children who learn baby sign language have larger vocabularies than children who do not learn baby sign language. Vocabulary is such an important part of language because it allows children to learn even more words! The more words you have, the more words you can learn. And so the cycle continues!

Decreases Tantrums

This is directly linked to better and clearer communication. Using baby sign language definitely does not eliminate tantrums. This is because there can be many different reasons for a tantrum (sometimes it's a difference of opinion) but for those tantrums that occur due to a miscommunication with your little person, having better and clearer communication will help reduce the number and severity of meltdowns.

Increased Wellbeing

Wellbeing is linked to sense of self, connection to others and confidence. Because baby sign language supports all the areas described above, it inevitably supports your baby's wellbeing too!

Supports Literacy Development

Fun fact: having a large vocabulary is a primary predictor in literacy outcomes!

So, using baby sign language - because it supports vocabulary development - actually will help your child when they are ready to start learning to read and write!

I have to confess, I actually don't support early literacy teaching. I know - sounds strange coming from a teacher, but there are so many other important milestones to focus on for little people (play is SUPER important for all areas of learning) that teaching them the alphabet doesn't really need to be on the list yet. That doesn't mean you can't do things to help them excel when the times comes. Baby sign language for example is a fun, non-intrusive way of helping your little person get the language head start that they need to really thrive in literacy in the years to come.

Language and communication really are central to all areas of learning and development and will help with achieving many of your baby milestones.