Why sign with kids?

Wouldn't it be great if children could tell us what they want before they can speak? It's possible with sign language. Why? Language is a form of symbolic representation, but speech is only one type of language. Speech requires the development of the mouth and tongue. Conversely, sign employs the motor skills, which mature earlier. Children as young as 6-months are capable of symbolic representation and have the ability to sign before they have the ability to speak.

Both the child and parent will benefit from the use of sign language. With a shared method of communication, frustrations diminish on both sides. Children are better able to convey their needs and parents are better able to respond to them, establishing a trusting relationship.

But the benefits don't end there. Children may be less aggressive if they are better able to express themselves. As they get older, they are likely to have strong reading and writing skills and to be well prepared to learn other languages later in life. Sign language is also a useful form of communication for children with special needs or conditions such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and various learning disabilities. For anyone who has verbal or auditory challenges, whether developmental or medical in nature, sign language provides another form of communication.

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