How will sign language effect our babys language development ?
Through signs, babies learn that their thoughts can be conveyed symbolically. For example, a baby may think, “All I have to do is touch my fingers to my lips and my parents will understand that I’m hungry!”. Babies also learn that language can be used to influence others. “I can get Dad to put more crackers on my plate if I sign MORE. Signing lets babies begin to explore and understand the basic functions of language at a very early age. Babies can use signs to choose the topic of conversation. This allows them to direct an adult’s attention to the things they want to investigate. “All I have to do to get my parents to tell me more about airplanes is make the sign for AIRPLANE.” In addition to giving babies an early understanding of the functions of language, signs help reinforce the meaning of spoken words, especially when both words and signs are used simultaneously.
