FAQ - Signing with Young Children
1. When should I start signing with my child? You can start signing right away. For children under 12 months you may want to just start with 3-5 signs. Babies will understand signs long before they are able to sign back to you. For example, when you sign MILK to her, you may notice she kicks her legs or starts squirming in anticipation of milk. Older toddlers will sign back at a much faster rate, but individual differences and level of exposure to the sign make it difficult to give a specific time-frame. Preschoolers may sign back to you immediately. Signing, like all early learning, should be a fun activity for you and your child.
2. Will signing delay my child’s speech development? This is a frequent concern of many parents. However, research has indicated that the reverse is true. Children who sign may actually talk before their non-signing peers. Remember that ASL signs are a form of communication and speech is a form of communication. You are just giving your child another way to express his thoughts, wishes, or what he sees around him. Your child is still being exposed to the spoken word as you sign. As you incorporate the signs into your daily routine you may find yourself slowing down your speech on that signed word. This not only emphasizes the sign, but also allows your child’s brain to focus on that verbal word.
3. My child already speaks. What are the benefits of signing with her? For a speaking child, ASL signs provide a way to encourage those early literacy skills. You can incorporate signs into your story time. You can encourage her to sign the words she recognizes in some of her favorite stories. You can also incorporate the signs into the nursery rhymes you know. There may be future benefits you can’t foresee. Perhaps there will come a time that she can’t talk to you, but needs to communicate with you and uses these ASL signs to talk to you.
4. Can’t I just make up signs? Do I really need to learn ASL? While you can use your own signs, there are many benefits to using ASL. For example, you and your child will be able to communication with community members who use ASL. Neither of you need to be fluent in ASL to sign, “Play, friend, please.” By using made-up signs you not only limit the signs to your own family, but also run the risk of using an ASL sign in an unintended manner.
5. What are the keys to success with signing? The two most important factors are repetition and consistency. Use the signs you know frequently during your daily routine. The more your child sees the sign the faster he will learn it. Also, encourage any signing attempt. Just like speech starts out with “da-da” for daddy, his signs may be a slight variation, such as grabbing his wrist and twist his upper body for “baby.” Always model the correct sign, but be on the lookout for less-than-perfect signs from your child. If you think your child is signing something, interact with him. For example say, “Are you signing milk?” Perhaps he wants milk, is currently drinking milk, or sees milk in his environment. In addition, never require that your child sign something before you give it to them. Signing should be an enjoyable activity for both of you. Your child will sign when he is ready to.
2. Will signing delay my child’s speech development? This is a frequent concern of many parents. However, research has indicated that the reverse is true. Children who sign may actually talk before their non-signing peers. Remember that ASL signs are a form of communication and speech is a form of communication. You are just giving your child another way to express his thoughts, wishes, or what he sees around him. Your child is still being exposed to the spoken word as you sign. As you incorporate the signs into your daily routine you may find yourself slowing down your speech on that signed word. This not only emphasizes the sign, but also allows your child’s brain to focus on that verbal word.
3. My child already speaks. What are the benefits of signing with her? For a speaking child, ASL signs provide a way to encourage those early literacy skills. You can incorporate signs into your story time. You can encourage her to sign the words she recognizes in some of her favorite stories. You can also incorporate the signs into the nursery rhymes you know. There may be future benefits you can’t foresee. Perhaps there will come a time that she can’t talk to you, but needs to communicate with you and uses these ASL signs to talk to you.
4. Can’t I just make up signs? Do I really need to learn ASL? While you can use your own signs, there are many benefits to using ASL. For example, you and your child will be able to communication with community members who use ASL. Neither of you need to be fluent in ASL to sign, “Play, friend, please.” By using made-up signs you not only limit the signs to your own family, but also run the risk of using an ASL sign in an unintended manner.
5. What are the keys to success with signing? The two most important factors are repetition and consistency. Use the signs you know frequently during your daily routine. The more your child sees the sign the faster he will learn it. Also, encourage any signing attempt. Just like speech starts out with “da-da” for daddy, his signs may be a slight variation, such as grabbing his wrist and twist his upper body for “baby.” Always model the correct sign, but be on the lookout for less-than-perfect signs from your child. If you think your child is signing something, interact with him. For example say, “Are you signing milk?” Perhaps he wants milk, is currently drinking milk, or sees milk in his environment. In addition, never require that your child sign something before you give it to them. Signing should be an enjoyable activity for both of you. Your child will sign when he is ready to.
