So Why Should I Teach My Child ASL?

       When I first started researching teaching my daughter ASL, I was overwhelmed by all of the information on the internet. There are so many websites citing the benefits to teaching ASL to infants but it seemed like each website only covered one or two benefits. None of them seemed to have all the benefits in one place or the website was missing other crucial information, such as the physical aspect of learning to speak or where I could get the information to learn ASL myself. That is what sparked my idea to publish this series of blogs, so parents could have all the information in one place and to not overwhelm you with the thousands of results that pop up on Google when you search “teaching children ASL.” 
  Just for an idea of what I was up against this is just a sample of what 33 websites claimed as benefits for teaching ASL to hearing children. As you can see, there is no consistency to what each website puts up, just that there is a consistent six benefits to teaching children ASL.  

Nelson L, White K, Grewe J. Evidence for Website Claims about the Benefits of Teaching Sign Language to Infants and Toddlers with Normal Hearing. Infant & Child Development [serial online]. September 2012;21(5):474-502. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 29, 2015.

  When I first started teaching my daughter, and more currently my son, sign language, I hoped with all my heart it would allow them a much earlier way to communicate their needs to myself and their dad. This is the most popular benefit cited to teaching children sign, online, from my own personal experience and of those close to me that also taught their children sign language. The idea that, instead of your baby crying until you eventually figure out what they need, they can actually sign to you what they want, when they want it, has such a strong appeal that it seemed crazy to me to not try it. Low and behold, it worked! When my daughter was 10 months old she started signing for milk, more and eat. She could tell us what she wanted, which eliminated the frustration of guessing when she was hungry or thirsty. This was enough success for us to continue teaching her and to decide to teach our son as well.
  Another benefit of teaching a child ASL is an increased language or speech development. I can whole heartedly say that I believe my daughter not only speaks more fluently and has a larger vocabulary than other children her age because of sign language. Now, I know some of you may be shaking your head and thinking I look at my child with rose colored glasses, because honestly, who doesn't look at their kid that way? I will admit, I do look at my children that way but when we go to the park or anywhere else children of the same age group are around playing with my daughter, she is almost always the most intelligible person there. 
  Other reasons typically cited are an increase in IQ, reduced frustration, tantrums and emotional outbursts (because they can actually tell you what they want instead of throwing a fit and hoping you figure it out), an increased parent/child bond, and an increase in self-esteem or accomplishment. 
  Now I can also personally say my daughter had and still has very few tantrums or outbursts for things because she knows she can tell us what it is she wants or feels and we will address it accordingly. We have built the trust with her that she can tell, or sign, things to us and we will discuss it with her so that her needs are met. 
  Through learning ASL with our daughter, we were able to do something with her, learn something new together as a family, and bond with her on a level that we never thought possible before. It brought more laughter and fun to our house that we ever imagined to be associated with learning a new language and for that I am especially fond of ASL. 
  The last benefit, an increase in self-esteem and accomplishment in the child, was a benefit I had never even considered until I saw how excited, happy, and giggly it made my daughter to learn a new sign and to then try it out. Still to this day, though she can say anything she wants to, she loves learning new signs and loves showing off what she has learned to people. I hope that the excitement to learn is deeply rooted in her heart and mind and she never loses that.
      As you can see, there are many benefits to learning ASL and teaching children ASL. Are some of these benefits you knew about or are these news to you? Either way, keep those benefits in mind as you consider ASL and if it is right for your family. While you are at it though, here is another new sign to keep you excited for more!