The Benefits of Baby Sign Language: Communication Tips for Nonverbal Babies
Learning how to communicate with your baby is an essential skill that both parents and children need to acquire. Although babies may communicate their needs and feelings by laughing and crying, babies can actually begin to communicate effectively through gestures before using verbal expressions. Therefore, baby sign language can be a very useful tool for learning, communicating, and living with your baby, regardless of whether they can hear or not!
Benefits of Teaching Your Baby Sign Language
Sign language can be beneficial for verbal and nonverbal children. Some of the benefits of sign language include the following:
1. Developmental Benefits
Babies may usually communicate using gestures as early as several months before they can rely solely on voice. Therefore, it can be beneficial to introduce new words to your kid as early as five or six months old if you're unsure of when to start teaching them sign language. Babies can begin to remember a sign at the age of six to seven months. By the time they are eight months old, they can mimic movements and sign single words. Two-year-olds can sign complex words and even entire sentences with a lot of practice!
2. Improved Communication Skills
Babies that cannot communicate with their guardians must rely on their guardians to read their cries. It can be difficult for parents to do this responsibility. However, infants can communicate by using gestures that resemble words or short phrases to let parents know they need their attention. While cries force you to experiment with numerous solutions (feeding, sleep, cuddling), you may use basic cues to assist your baby communicate their exact needs1.
3. Speech and Cognitive Development
Learning sign language has several advantages, but one of the most obvious is that it accelerates the development of speech2 and mental abilities3. Infants who sign frequently have superior language skills and typically start to talk earlier. Children who learn sign language can also become more creative thinkers and improve their problem-solving abilities. Understanding longer sentences and a larger vocabulary can result from learning both verbal and nonverbal communication techniques. Future academic achievement might frequently be improved as a result of these advantages.
4. Enhanced Memory
Language learning may be a multisensory experience using signing. More neural connections are made in the brain to strengthen memory and enhance recall when communication occurs through sight, hearing, and movement. Children eventually use both sides of their brains to recall language, and as they pick up new vocabulary, their muscle memory is also being used! Other ideas that your child is learning—the alphabet, animals, and so much more—can be reinforced with the aid of this.
5. Psychological Development
Babies who find it difficult to express their needs to their guardians verbally may grow confused and irritated when attempting to communicate. Baby sign language can help babies feel more understood and have a better comprehension of their parents, which can reduce irritation and strengthen the link between parents and children. Possessing many modes of expression can help children develop positive and constructive relationships with their parents, which will boost their confidence and self-worth in the long run.
Also Read: Bonding with Your Baby
In conclusion, the early years of life are a time of fast development. Babies are developing cognitively and physically, learning new things daily, and becoming more aware of their bodies and thoughts. Young children frequently become irritated and may struggle to control their emotions when they are unable to express their demands to parents or other caregivers. Hence, parents and other caregivers can support early communication skills by using baby signs and gestures.
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