Date post: | 01-Jan-2016 |
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The Importance of Teaching Young Children American Sign Language
By Erin Reilly
What is ASL?• Naturally evolved
language• Hand motions
incorporated with speech.
• Does NOT follow English word order or snyntax.
• Has it’s own set of grammar rules.
• Facial Expression is key.
3 Little Pigs
Narrative• Parent doesn’t know
what child wants.• Frustration and tears
ensue when child cannot make self understood.
• Sign Language could prevent such frustration.
Why Teach Children Sign?• Control of hands matures
before motor control of voice.
• Talking and signing flood baby with language.
• Signers learn language faster than speakers.
• Improves Reading Skills.• Increases Behavior
Control.• Increases Self Esteem
and Enthusiasm.• Children become more
involved in play.• Increases attention
abilities and visual discrimination.
• Improves memory.
Arguments Against Teaching Children Sign
Language• Children will not learn
to speak proper English.
• Children will not learn proper symbolic play.
• Could interfere with parent-child bonds.
• Improper use of signs =embarrassment
Counter Arguments• Impossible for hearing children
not to learn to talk.• “Visual exploration . . .enhances
a child’s overall attention to gestures and lead[s] to greater facility in expression of symbolic play acts”
• Hearing status does not affect symbolic play.
• No significant difference between security attachment of hearing and hard of hearing children.
• No difference between hearing status and attachment of mother to child.
• Classes can teach proper use of signs.
Conclusion• I encourage all
parents with young hearing children to use sign language.
• No major disadvantages, only major advantages.
• Fun for the whole family!
• Why not give it a try?
Videos of ASL • 1 Year Old With Mother• 13 Month Old • Ice Ice Baby--in ASL!