Why we should be teaching all young children sign language
Potential cure to the “terrible twos: It’s believed that the terrible twos are rooted in children’s inability to fully express themselves.
Improved child-parent/caregiver bonding: While some children cry to get what they want, signing children learn.
Decreased frustration: There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to communicate what you want to say.
Increased reasoning skills: Bilingualism—which includes languages both signed and spoken—has been shown to boost children’s cognitive skills.
An average +12 IQ point advantage: Studies have shown that among eight-year-olds, signers showed IQs that were on average 12 points higher than non-signers.
Increased and effective communication: Pre-verbal children can learn vital signs to indicate if they’re hungry or hurt.
Stimulating brain development: Learning sign language from a young age can reportedly stimulate brain development.
Accelerated emotional development: Children who are able to communicate and express themselves are more able to form friendships from an earlier age.
Accelerated speech development: Studies have shown that exposure to sign language can actually help students better understand spoken words.
What is sign language: Sign language is a visual language that uses hands, shapes, movements, and facial expressions.