VTech 80-069041 - Electronics V.Smile Baby Infant Developmen User Manual page 3

Sign Language For Babies:
Helping Babies Tell Us What's On Their Minds
By
Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn
Why Sign Language for Babies?
There's nothing more heart-wrenching than hearing a baby cry and not
knowing what's wrong. Unfortunately, until they can talk, babies are literally
"at a loss for words" when it comes to telling us what's going on and how
best we can help.
Wait No More!
Now, thanks to our book Baby Signs and our research-based Baby Signs
®
Program, the world's leading sign language program for babies, children
from 6 months to 3 years need no longer wait until they can talk to let us
know what's on their minds. Instead, as Newsweek Magazine put it, they
can learn simple "hand signals that let them communicate their joys and
fears without tears."
You're Already Doing It
Signing is a very natural form of communication. In fact, it's so natural that
all parents teach their babies at least three signs-YES, NO, and BYE-
BYE-without even thinking about it. After two decades of research at the
University of California, we now know that these three signs are just the
tip of the iceberg. Babies are eager to learn many, many more signs to let
us know what they need, what they see, what they feel, and even what
they remember. What parents wouldn't want such a priceless window into
their baby's mind?
The Research Behind the Program
But won't signing slow down learning to talk? The answer is a resounding
"No!" In fact, just as crawling is a helpful precursor to walking, signing is a
helpful precursor to talking. We've proven this to be the case with a long-
term study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Far from hindering
language development, babies in the Baby Signs Program actually learned
®
to talk sooner. We also discovered that this advantage continued over time
in the form of higher IQs at age 8.
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