Teaching Children Signs and Talking

Why isn’t she talking yet?

 

 

Children generally begin using words we understand around 12 months. First words may be Mamma, Dadah, Bahbah, etc. Throughout the next year their usable language can grow to 250 words or more. Many educators and parents begin using sign language with their children around 10 months. Studies have shown that children are better able to understand language and concepts when consistent gestures are used. Some parents worry that their child will stop wanting to talk if they teach their child sign language. A slow talker may use sign to communicate longer than a child who picks up language quickly. However knowing sign is not the cause of delayed speech, learning to talk is a developmental process. A child will learn speech within their own developmental time line.  On the other hand, if a slow talker can make their needs known through sign this can make life better for both the child and care giver. It is always frustrating trying to meet the needs of a crying child who cannot communicate them.

 

Look Who's Talking! All about Child Language Development

 http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/language_development/

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/speechandlanguage.aspx

Speech-Language Therapy dot Com

http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34:ages&catid=11:admin&Itemid=117 

 

Gesture Gives a Hand to Language and Learning: Perspectives from Cognitive Neuroscience,

Developmental Psychology and Education

http://faculty.washington.edu/losterho/Compass.pdf

Can Baby Sign Language Delay Speech?

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8060750/ns/health-childrens_health/t/can-baby-sign-language-delay-speech/#.U9vz2mPEbxQ

Does Baby Sign Make a Difference?

 http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Does-Baby-Sign-Make-a-Difference-.aspx