Benefits:

Communication

Mental Attributes

Effects on Brain Development and Function

For Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Introduction to Sign Systems

ASL:

A visual-gestural language that is indigenous to the American Deaf Community and that is often required as a first language by children who have Deaf parents.

Signed Exact English:

A specific signing system which incorporates word endings and English word order in a specific signing style. Little regard is made for conceptual accuracy.

Home Signs:

A decided upon sytem of gesturing created by an individual and/or members of one family to communicate with pre-verbal infants.

General Benefits of ASL

(The advantages that follow have been gathered from a number of resources (listed below). If you are interested in the "proof," or the studies on which these claims are based, please consult the reference section of this website and see the original publications. Do note, however, that not every single benefit has been "scientifically proven." Some of them have been compiled based on the reports of individuals who have utilized sign language with their own children. For a list of fun websites to check out on this topic, see the resources section.)

Promotes active learning
Bridges the gap between receptive and expressive language
Enhances fine-motor skills and coordination
Stimulates intellectual development (May result in a higher IQ)
Enhances self-esteem and confidence
Accelerates the speech process; child may learn to speak earlier
Provides more opportunities to increase vocabulary
Promotes early experience in grammatical form and function
Promotes a greater interest in reading
May provide the foundation for an above average ability to learn a new language later in life, or may help to make second language acquisition easier
Builds on babies' natural tendencies to use gestures
As symbols, signs may resemble the object in mind more closely than a word would
Enables pre-verbal children to communicte with each other and reduces conflicts
Provides infants with a means of communicating their wants, needs and feelings to their caregivers at an early age
Encourages childcare workers and teachers to meet the needs of the children in their care
Can enhance sibling relationships
Strengthens parent/infant bonding
Empowers babies to direct adults' attention to what they want to talk about
Lowers frustration levels in regard to communication challenges for both parent and baby
Offers parents an opportunity for deeper bonding with their child because they have greater insight into their baby's mind
Facilitates an adult's ability to interpret early attempts at words (for example: the child says "ba" and signs "bath" or the child says "ba" and signs "ball"
Parents may experience a higher level of trust from their baby because he or she knows that they are understood
Can direct parents' attention toward potential dangers or concerns
Expands social opportunites for communication in a diverse world
Respectfully introduces children to Deaf culture
Enables communication with the Deaf community

This following information has been taken from teachbabysign.com.

A Great Place to Start Signing

based on the information of Margi Stenson, MSW

A great time to start teaching sign language to babies is during feeding times. Whether it be in a highchair, a swing a baby carrier or at a table, mealtime is a great opportunity to teach signs to babies. Here are some of the reasons:

Food-Oriented Signs. Many of the"starter signs" are food-oriented. "Eat", "thirsty", "all done" and "more" can be taught at the table.
Together 3 times a day. You and your baby are likely engaged in the feeding routine 3 times a day. Consistency helps babies learn signs. Mealtime gives you 3 opportunities every day to expose your little one to sign langauge.
Close proximity to one another. When you are feeding yoru baby you are close together. You can easily engage in eye contact and your little one can clearly see you sign. You are within arms reach so you can mold his fingers to form signs if needed.
Reward and reinforcement at hand. Receiving food and drink are natural rewards after signing "eat", "thirsty" and "more". Removing your baby from her highchair after signing "all done" will reinforce that sign.
Eating is an enjoyable activity. If you make signing fun and pair it with a pleasureable activity then your little one will learn to like signing too.

Remember: Teach sign language when your baby has some food in his tummy otherwise he will be totally focused on eating and not at all interested in your hand gestures.

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Brief Overview of Language Acquisition