Child and Family Development

Sign language can be beneficial for kids with typical language development or with a language delay. Use of signs can:

Decrease frustration (by giving them a way to get a message across)
Build vocabulary (teaches child how to use symbols for objects, actions, etc)
Increase social skills (successful communication creates a sense of belonging)
Increase early literacy skills (reading)
Increase motor development (coordinate hand and body movements)
Increase length of utterances (using longer phrases and sentences)

Children don't pick up signs or even vocabulary over night, but they will eventually gain them. If you have any concerns about your child not talking or if he/she is struggling during interactions with others, please contact a Child and Family Development speech therapist for an evaluation.