Sign To A Better Understanding Essay, Research Paper
Kim Berry Berry 1
English 1C
K. Simpson
Sign For A Better Understanding
You d better stop crying, or I ll give you something to cry about, which is a phrase
used in some households across America. The phrase illustrates one of the most common
problems concerning infants and parents; A lack of communication. The inability to
understand infants comes primarily from the fact that they do not have fully developed
facial muscles, which are necessary for speech. Child maltreatment, frustrated children,
and frustrated parents, these are all consequences that can occur from a lack of
communication. A commonality of parents who murder their own children at the early
stages of life have often used the excuse, the baby was crying and they could not get it to
stop. Communication begins at the moment people are born, but most babies do not speak
until the age of two. Generally, caregivers and babies spend the first two years of life in a
guessing game concerning the needs of the infant. A simple way to avoid the problems
surrounding a lack of communication is to teach infants sign language, which can be
implemented at the age of eight months, and parents who have adopted this practice have
witnessed numerous benefits from the program.
By empowering infants with an effective form of communication like sign
language, babies are able to understand words earlier, babies and parents enjoy a stronger
bond, and babies whine and cry less. A study funded by the National Institutes of Child
Health and Human development states, the benefits of a stronger parent/child bond alone
make the signing process worthwhile. (Garcia 1) Furthermore, Dr. Burton White states,
I was amazed to find validated reports that children as young as nine months old could be
taught to acquire as many as seventy-five signs by then. In contrast, the typical child that
was simply learning ordinary [verbal] language, was lucky to understand five or six words
Berry 2
and generally said nothing at all. (Garcia 3) What a remarkable difference! It is easy to
understand how being able to understand and communicate effectively would benefit
anyone, baby or not.
Yet, some people remain skeptical about the program. Some believe, that if
children are taught sign language they will use their hands to speak instead of using their
voice. On the television show 20/20, Perry Peltz states that, Studies on the baby signs
method used by the Oklahoma group show that children who use baby signs speak earlier
and have more to say when they do. (Ford 6) The study also pointed out that infants drop
the use of signing, as their facial muscles develop, and they start using words in place of
signing. In effect, these children are better at communicating then non-signing babies.
When a parent teaches sign language to their baby, they have to invest a lot of time
and effort into the task. This time spent is usually rewarded with the baby signing back in
only a month. The most used sign for infants are more, hot, pain, and milk. Imagine that a
baby is hungry, or in pain, or simply wants more of something to eat; Sign language
provides that infant with the necessary tools to convey those ideas. Thus, the parent and
child can spend their time more effectively battling tasks like building blocks, reading a
book, or cuddling when the mood is right. The more time the parent and infant have
enjoying one another, rather than trying to interpret each cry, creates a happier union for
both.
Maltreatment of children is one the most disturbing crimes of our era. Most of the
maltreatment cases in America go unreported for their lack of sensationalism, but
nevertheless children across America are being abused each day. Parents neglect, threat,
beat, and mame their children, and how can it be avoided? In an article on the web that
discusses Dr. Garcia and his book Sign With Your Baby the author states, A parent who
is communicating with their baby may be less likely to neglect or abuse them. It is possible
that parents who get into the habit of communicating with their babies through sign may
Berry 3
develop into parents who listen more to their speaking children and adolescents.
Subsequently, these parents may be more responsive to their children s needs, which
would hopefully result in healthier, more well-adjusted, adolescents, and adults.
(Garcia2) The fact that communication is key to anyone s success is evident. Furthermore,
utilizing something as simple as sign language to ease the pain of abused children is a
worthwhile endeavor.
Another reason parents should utilize the program is brain development. Signing
and using words at the same time may be stimulating both hemispheres of the brain. Also,
when a parent is teaching signing, they will speak to their babies more, which will help
them understand the language earlier. Finally, some studies that were done in support of
Dr. Garcia s book, Sign With Your Baby, have shown that the average IQ for signing
babies was 114, while the non-signing baby was 102. The study also conveyed that signing
babies shared a greater interest in books, and by the age of two they possessed a
vocabulary of fifty more real words.(Garcia 2) While raising a child parents should
provide the best environment they can for their infants. By teaching their children sign
language they are increasing their children s abilities to communicate more effectively,
which will aid them as they embark into adulthood.
Parents and their children are confronted with numerous challenges on a day to
day basis, and by teaching signing to babies we are lessening the multitude of challenges
that the lack of communication can create. Parents who teach sign are utilizing a tool,
which has primarily been for the benefit of deaf children, which is forming a bridge
between silence and understanding. Anyone who has engaged in any kind of relationship
can begin to understand how harmonious that relationship was based on the level of
understanding by both participants. Sign language for babies is a beneficial tool that should
be introduced internationally, and might have an overwhelming effect on future
generations.
Berry 4
Work s Cited
Ford, Jack, and Peltz, Perri. Baby Signing ABC News: 20/20 11 Oct. 1998
.
Garcia, Dr. Joseph. Sign With Your Baby 1 Jan. 2000
.Kim Berry Berry 1
English 1C
K. Simpson
Sign For A Better Understanding
You d better stop crying, or I ll give you something to cry about, which is a phrase
used in some households across America. The phrase illustrates one of the most common
problems concerning infants and parents; A lack of communication. The inability to
understand infants comes primarily from the fact that they do not have fully developed
facial muscles, which are necessary for speech. Child maltreatment, frustrated children,
and frustrated parents, these are all consequences that can occur from a lack of
communication. A commonality of parents who murder their own children at the early
stages of life have often used the excuse, the baby was crying and they could not get it to
stop. Communication begins at the moment people are born, but most babies do not speak
until the age of two. Generally, caregivers and babies spend the first two years of life in a
guessing game concerning the needs of the infant. A simple way to avoid the problems
surrounding a lack of communication is to teach infants sign language, which can be
implemented at the age of eight months, and parents who have adopted this practice have
witnessed numerous benefits from the program.
By empowering infants with an effective form of communication like sign
language, babies are able to understand words earlier, babies and parents enjoy a stronger
bond, and babies whine and cry less. A study funded by the National Institutes of Child
Health and Human development states, the benefits of a stronger parent/child bond alone
make the signing process worthwhile. (Garcia 1) Furthermore, Dr. Burton White states,
I was amazed to find validated reports that children as young as nine months old could be
taught to acquire as many as seventy-five signs by then. In contrast, the typical child that
was simply learning ordinary [verbal] language, was lucky to understand five or six words
Berry 2
and generally said nothing at all. (Garcia 3) What a remarkable difference! It is easy to
understand how being able to understand and communicate effectively would benefit
anyone, baby or not.
Yet, some people remain skeptical about the program. Some believe, that if
children are taught sign language they will use their hands to speak instead of using their
voice. On the television show 20/20, Perry Peltz states that, Studies on the baby signs
method used by the Oklahoma group show that children who use baby signs speak earlier
and have more to say when they do. (Ford 6) The study also pointed out that infants drop
the use of signing, as their facial muscles develop, and they start using words in place of
signing. In effect, these children are better at communicating then non-signing babies.
When a parent teaches sign language to their baby, they have to invest a lot of time
and effort into the task. This time spent is usually rewarded with the baby signing back in
only a month. The most used sign for infants are more, hot, pain, and milk. Imagine that a
baby is hungry, or in pain, or simply wants more of something to eat; Sign language
provides that infant with the necessary tools to convey those ideas. Thus, the parent and
child can spend their time more effectively battling tasks like building blocks, reading a
book, or cuddling when the mood is right. The more time the parent and infant have
enjoying one another, rather than trying to interpret each cry, creates a happier union for
both.
Maltreatment of children is one the most disturbing crimes of our era. Most of the
maltreatment cases in America go unreported for their lack of sensationalism, but
nevertheless children across America are being abused each day. Parents neglect, threat,
beat, and mame their children, and how can it be avoided? In an article on the web that
discusses Dr. Garcia and his book Sign With Your Baby the author states, A parent who
is communicating with their baby may be less likely to neglect or abuse them. It is possible
that parents who get into the habit of communicating with their babies through sign may
Berry 3
develop into parents who listen more to their speaking children and adolescents.
Subsequently, these parents may be more responsive to their children s needs, which
would hopefully result in healthier, more well-adjusted, adolescents, and adults.
(Garcia2) The fact that communication is key to anyone s success is evident. Furthermore,
utilizing something as simple as sign language to ease the pain of abused children is a
worthwhile endeavor.
Another reason parents should utilize the program is brain development. Signing
and using words at the same time may be stimulating both hemispheres of the brain. Also,
when a parent is teaching signing, they will speak to their babies more, which will help
them understand the language earlier. Finally, some studies that were done in support of
Dr. Garcia s book, Sign With Your Baby, have shown that the average IQ for signing
babies was 114, while the non-signing baby was 102. The study also conveyed that signing
babies shared a greater interest in books, and by the age of two they possessed a
vocabulary of fifty more real words.(Garcia 2) While raising a child parents should
provide the best environment they can for their infants. By teaching their children sign
language they are increasing their children s abilities to communicate more effectively,
which will aid them as they embark into adulthood.
Parents and their children are confronted with numerous challenges on a day to
day basis, and by teaching signing to babies we are lessening the multitude of challenges
that the lack of communication can create. Parents who teach sign are utilizing a tool,
which has primarily been for the benefit of deaf children, which is forming a bridge
between silence and understanding. Anyone who has engaged in any kind of relationship
can begin to understand how harmonious that relationship was based on the level of
understanding by both participants. Sign language for babies is a beneficial tool that should
be introduced internationally, and might have an overwhelming effect on future
generations.
Berry 4
Work s Cited
Ford, Jack, and Peltz, Perri. Baby Signing ABC News: 20/20 11 Oct. 1998
.
Garcia, Dr. Joseph. Sign With Your Baby 1 Jan. 2000
.Kim Berry Berry 1
English 1C
K. Simpson
Sign For A Better Understanding
You d better stop crying, or I ll give you something to cry about, which is a phrase
used in some households across America. The phrase illustrates one of the most common
problems concerning infants and parents; A lack of communication. The inability to
understand infants comes primarily from the fact that they do not have fully developed
facial muscles, which are necessary for speech. Child maltreatment, frustrated children,
and frustrated parents, these are all consequences that can occur from a lack of
communication. A commonality of parents who murder their own children at the early
stages of life have often used the excuse, the baby was crying and they could not get it to
stop. Communication begins at the moment people are born, but most babies do not speak
until the age of two. Generally, caregivers and babies spend the first two years of life in a
guessing game concerning the needs of the infant. A simple way to avoid the problems
surrounding a lack of communication is to teach infants sign language, which can be
implemented at the age of eight months, and parents who have adopted this practice have
witnessed numerous benefits from the program.
By empowering infants with an effective form of communication like sign
language, babies are able to understand words earlier, babies and parents enjoy a stronger
bond, and babies whine and cry less. A study funded by the National Institutes of Child
Health and Human development states, the benefits of a stronger parent/child bond alone
make the signing process worthwhile. (Garcia 1) Furthermore, Dr. Burton White states,
I was amazed to find validated reports that children as young as nine months old could be
taught to acquire as many as seventy-five signs by then. In contrast, the typical child that
was simply learning ordinary [verbal] language, was lucky to understand five or six words
Berry 2
and generally said nothing at all. (Garcia 3) What a remarkable difference! It is easy to
understand how being able to understand and communicate effectively would benefit
anyone, baby or not.
Yet, some people remain skeptical about the program. Some believe, that if
children are taught sign language they will use their hands to speak instead of using their
voice. On the television show 20/20, Perry Peltz states that, Studies on the baby signs
method used by the Oklahoma group show that children who use baby signs speak earlier
and have more to say when they do. (Ford 6) The study also pointed out that infants drop
the use of signing, as their facial muscles develop, and they start using words in place of
signing. In effect, these children are better at communicating then non-signing babies.
When a parent teaches sign language to their baby, they have to invest a lot of time
and effort into the task. This time spent is usually rewarded with the baby signing back in
only a month. The most used sign for infants are more, hot, pain, and milk. Imagine that a
baby is hungry, or in pain, or simply wants more of something to eat; Sign language
provides that infant with the necessary tools to convey those ideas. Thus, the parent and
child can spend their time more effectively battling tasks like building blocks, reading a
book, or cuddling when the mood is right. The more time the parent and infant have
enjoying one another, rather than trying to interpret each cry, creates a happier union for
both.
Maltreatment of children is one the most disturbing crimes of our era. Most of the
maltreatment cases in America go unreported for their lack of sensationalism, but
nevertheless children across America are being abused each day. Parents neglect, threat,
beat, and mame their children, and how can it be avoided? In an article on the web that
discusses Dr. Garcia and his book Sign With Your Baby the author states, A parent who