Baby sign language

A child signing the concept of "bird"

Baby sign language is the use of manual signing allowing infants and toddlers to communicate emotions, desires, and objects prior to spoken language development.[1][2] With guidance and encouragement, signing develops from a natural stage in infant development known as gesture.[3] These gestures are taught in conjunction with speech to hearing children, and are not the same as a sign language.[4] Some common benefits that have been found through the use of baby sign programs include an increased parent-child bond and communication,[5] decreased frustration,[5] and improved self-esteem for both the parent and child.[6] Researchers have found that baby sign neither benefits nor harms the language development of infants.[2][7][8] Promotional products and ease of information access have increased the attention that baby sign receives, making it pertinent that caregivers become educated before making the decision to use baby sign.[2][8]

  1. ^ "Baby sign language: A guide for the science-minded parent". www.parentingscience.com. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Fitzpatrick Grandpierre et al was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Iverson, J. M.; Goldin-Meadow, S. (2005). "Gesture paves the way for language development". Gesture and Language Development. 16 (5): 367–371. doi:10.1111/j.0956-7976.2005.01542.x. PMID 15869695. S2CID 16877963.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Capone McGregor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Mueller Sepulveda was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference wanting the best was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Kirk, K. E.; Howlett, N.; Pine, K. J.; Fletcher, B. C. (2013). "To sign or not to sign? The impact of encouraging infants to gesture on infant language and maternal mind-mindedness". Child Development. 84 (2): 574–590. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01874.x. PMID 23033858.
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Nelson White Grewe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).