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!