FOXBORO – More and more young children are learning to express themselves through sign language at daycare centers in Massachusetts.
“Imagine having all these big feelings and no way to get them out,” says Jessica Hearn, director of The Learning Experience in Foxboro. “That’s what sign language really helps our kids.”
Sign language for young children
Babies from the age of six months learn the form of communication at their school.
Hearn says more and more research shows that young children exposed to American Sign Language speak earlier, have a larger vocabulary and even understand more words by age 2 than children who are not exposed.
“It shows that they will have higher language development, vocabulary and a higher IQ score,” Hearn said. She has seen the benefits in her own son. “He was very frustrated at a young age, about 18 months, when they usually started developing words early to express themselves.”
Then she turned to her own colleagues for help.
“They were able to use the sign language program we have to help him express himself before he got the words, which helped take away all his frustration,” she said.
Benefits of sign language
Learning ASL not only helps promote toddlers’ communication skills, but also allows them to communicate with each other in the classroom and with their families at home.
“In our infant and toddler program, before children can speak verbally, it is important that children understand gestures. It helps them communicate with their caregivers,” Hearn said.
She adds that research also shows that ASL can help promote interest in books and other language activities as children get older.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis shows that sign language systems also help people with hearing problems and developmental disabilities.
Hearn said it teaches an important message to their young classes: each of them is different and it is important to accept each other.
“Everyone learns differently, so acceptance from everyone,” she said. “That’s really a big part of TLE.”
Jordyn Jagolinzer
