Whenchildrenatanearlyageexperiencedisappointmentincommunicatingoverandoveragainitsignificantlyaffectstheirconfidence.Welearnthroughpatternsandrepetition.Whenachildcan’teffectivelyengageineither,itbecomesfrustratingforthechildandtheparent.Theconsequencesusuallyendinthechildavoidingsocialinteraction,throwingtantrums,andlosingself-confidence.ByusingbabysignlanguageIwasabletobypasssomemajordevelopmentalissuesthatmysonwashaving.
Ben,mythirdchild,hasbeenmymostshyandslowesttowanttoverbalize.Healwayshadahardtimepronouncingthings.Hestruggledtogethismouthtoproducethe“R” sound,andhefrequentlyomittedthe“S”,“Th”,and“Ch” soundsinmanywords.Thepoorlittleguywasgettingsofrustratedwhenpeoplecouldn’tunderstandhim.Hewouldeitheravoidtalkingandinteractingorhe’dstartscreamingandthrowingatantrum.I’veworkedwithmanyparentswhohavedealtwithsimilarproblems.Theytendtofeeloverwhelmedandconfusedbecausetheydon’tknowhowtohelptheirchild.
WithBenIdecidedthatanytimeIfoundoutwhathewastryingtosayIwouldteachhimthesignlanguageforthatword.Itwaslikeamiracle!HeknewthatIcouldunderstandhimifheusedthesign,andthenIwasabletohelphimlearnhowtopronouncethewordshewasverballystrugglingtosay.
Forinstance,Benwouldsay“Ga” formultiplethings.He’dsay“ga” forwater,“ga,ga” fordog,and“gaaa” forbook(Ihavenoideawhy).I’dpickeduponwateranddog,becausehewasalreadyusingthosesigns,thankgoodness.ThenonedayhewastryingtotellmehewantedsomethingandIhadnoideawhathewastalkingabout.Wewanderedaroundthehousetryingtofigureoutwhatheneeded.Finallyhesawthebookhewanted,“gaaa,gaaa,gaaa.” Ineverwouldhaveguessed.RightthenIsignedbooktohim,thenItookhishandsandhadhimsignbook.WediditafewtimesuntilIcouldtellheunderstood.LaterthatnightwhenIwasputtinghimtobedhesaid“ga”.Iaskedifhewantedsomewater,hesaidnoandstartedsigning“book”.Igrabbedabookandhestartedjumpingupanddownyelling,“yeah!” Whatareliefandpuresenseofjoyandaccomplishmentwebothfelt.Thatwastentimeseasierthanwanderingaroundthehousetryingtofigureoutwhatheneeded.
Benhascontinuedtobuildconfidence,avoidtantrums,andexcelsocially.Itrulyfeelthatbabysignlanguagehasenabledhimtoprogresswhenheotherwisewouldhavefallenbehindandconsequentlylostconfidence.Parentsdon’ttypicallythinktousebabysignlanguageforbuildingconfidenceintheirchildren,butIhaveseenitworkfirsthandtimeandtimeagain.Enablingyourchildtobettercommunicatewillhaveapositiveimpactonthemfortherestoftheirlives.AbouttheAuthor:AndreaPloehn(SAYPloneasin"hone")isanexpertonnonverbalcommunicationandteachingbabiessignlanguage.AnativeandresidentofSaltLakeCity,Utah,sheholdsacommunicationsdegreewithanemphasisininterpersonalcommunicationfromIdahoStateUniversity.Sheandherhusband,aphysicaltherapist,havefourchildren,ages16monthsthrough9-years-old.Formoreinformation,visithttp://www.Signing4Baby.com.ContactAndreaatAndreaPloehn@hotmail.com.