Baby Sign Language: Good or Bad?

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

26 Oct 2006 04:57 AM

Do you sign with your baby? Popular books like BabyWise by Ezzo tout signing with your baby as the answer to teaching your baby manners. At around five months, you're supposed to start teaching your baby signs for thirsty, hungry, please and thank you.

Other proponents note that babies definitely are able to think more than they can communicate. Teaching sign makes communicating basic needs much less frustrating. (Have you ever had your child repeatedly say a completely unintelligible word to their utter frustration because you can't understand?) If only all babies signed, we could see what's inside their heads and truly respond to their needs. This whole parenting thing might be easier, right?

Well, the truth of the matter is that sign language can really be a great thing. It is after all communicating which is a key goal during the toddler stage. Many people have stories of the weird neighbor kid who signed until he was two and didn't speak a word but the truth is--that's okay. Truth be told, how much your toddler talks not only depends on his development but on his personality as well. Some kids babble endlessly, others speak clear words by one year, and still others start late and let out complete, short, sentences.

I can tell you from personal experience that out of five children, all of them have fallen in wildly different places on the spectrum. I have one child who was well advanced and speaking in complete, (and no I'm not making this up) complete sentences by 15 months. I have another who was diagnosed as speech delayed only to later be "cured". (We can't get him to be quiet now.) Still another was right smack in the middle. And the twins speak not only intelligible English, but they also have words that are shared between them. I share this to say that "normal" here is a really big range.

So how exactly does sign language hurt your baby? Babies need to be communicated to--constantly. While this can and does include signing, it also has to include speaking, reading out loud and game playing. One study that watched preschoolers, noted that the preschoolers with advanced verbal skills consistently had mothers who claimed that talking to their babies was extremely important.

Any time you sign to your baby you should also be speaking what you're signing. This only makes sense. Yes, signing may make it less frustrating for your child to communicate but his ability to sign shouldn't take the place of attempts at speech. Furthmore experts say that there also should be plenty adults in the child's life who attempt to understand what he is saying without the sign language. If his words don't elicit a correct response, he is likely to try signing to get the same response.

I personally suspect that baby signing is just another baby bandwagon. Just like Baby Einstein and other such "bandwagons" the truth is they are very nice but when it comes down to it, it's the one on one interaction you provide with your baby that will make him smarter!

Related Articles:

Teaching Baby Sign Language

Speech: Birth to 12 Months

Is Your Baby Mentally Stable?

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Gwyllum (301) 26 Oct 2006 07:07 PM

Great blog, Valorie: Although I do not necessarily believe baby signing is so important, I am a great advocate for the use of sign language. Mainly because I do not have good use of vocal chords. However, although recent studies show SOME babies taught signing appear to have an advanced level of vocabulary and comprehension during their formative years, this phenomenon may also result from more time spent in motherspeak/babyspeak of any kind in normal, reciprocal communication. The language of romance is also very reciprocal in non-verbals such as looking deeply into the other's eyes, whispering sweet nothings and using hand gestures over a candle lit dinner. Even going so far as to 'fork feed' our special person with an exotic tidbit from our dinner plate - erk! We all use singing in everyday life anyway. Facial gestures and body language used to emphasize what we are saying is but one example. I use Auslan, the official Australian sign language of Australia. I also use some American and some English sign language to communicate with tourists I 'bump into' in Cairns Central Shopping Centre, according to the accent I hear. You see, I'm not too good on my feet either!!!

Valorie Delp (49340) 26 Oct 2006 07:58 PM

Thanks Gwyllum! I am not a huge fan of baby sign language. Personally, when I get the time to spend one on one, I would rather read a book! I don't think it's bad either--just not my preference of things to do with my babies. ;-)

Gwyllum (301) 26 Oct 2006 11:52 PM

I know what you mean Valorie re choice of activity when communicating at a one on one level - you are my heroine, I think you and those like you doing such wonderful work with your children's home school education are tops at teaching communication skills, anyway. On an academic note, symbolic interaction theory is a great conceptual framework when considering the use of signing and ANY OTHER form of communication/interaction. After all, it is all about symbols. S.B.

Valorie Delp (49340) 27 Oct 2006 06:17 AM

So true. I guess really if I thought about it, there's all sorts of signing going on--it's just not official sign language. But you're right--it is all about the symbols and getting their message out. I should also add that out of 5 kids 3 have been extremely early talkers. The other two are just so passive in their nature that they never got frustrated trying to communicate. We did lots of "show me".

I kind of wonder how much social interaction bears on the ability to speak early vs. individual temperament and abilities. The 3 children that talked early were my 1st who had me all to herself all day long and my twins who definitely have everyone's attention. Hmmmm.....interesting.