Should pre-school children be required to know sign-language?

Question

Should pre-school children be required to know sign-language?

Answer 1

I don't think so I mean they are still learning english no need to complicate it anymore than it already is.

Answer 2

no

unless they need it to communicate (have a disabilaty that keeps them form speaking or have someone close in this poition) it is usless! and to be required, dose that mean that they shold be taught before pre-school that is stupid

Answer 3

no way!  I might have used sign some with my son, but he learned to talk so fast I didn't feel any need for it at all.

Answer 4

ofcourse not. they are too young

Answer 5

I think it is a great idea if preschoolers are given the opportunity to learn sign language.

At this age children are like little sponges and will pick it up much easier and quicker than an adult.

By learning at this age it means their will be no boundary between children with hearing impairments and hearing children as they grow older.

Answer 6

I think kids are usually taught sign language if they have a speech problems. By preschool they don't need to sign as much because they can communicate well enough- unless they have a delay. So not as a requirement, but as an option, sure.

Answer 7

:-)  Learning sign-language is just like learning any other language.  Would we require preschool children to learn another language?  Probably not.  However... I'm very fond of teaching young children sign.  They pick it up so naturally and I tend to use it as a "non-verbal" way of communicating to them...some children tend to "block" out what an adult is saying but they can't seem to block out the visual that they are getting.  I also find that young children learn best when they are "doing" and simply adding signs tend to allow them experience it physically and therefore they grasp it sooner.

Answer 8

It's a neat concept, but PLEASE let's teach English first.  Signing does help the young ones to use their hands for something besides hitting/pushing/touching each other!

Answer 9

required? good heaven's no - we do sign language with our preschoolers and it's kind of approximate but they pick up on it really quick - anything hands on is pretty easy to teach a preschooler.

Answer 10

not required, but exposed. I know a kid who was 9 months, and used sign language very well. now she talks and still signs sometimes.

Answer 11

I'm in high school right now but was taught the sign language alphabet in kindergarten.

I would say that kids that age should not be required to learn sign language, but I do think it's nice if they know a little bit, such as the alphabet.

Then they can spell out their names and things like that, and show their parents and aunties and uncles that they know how to sign.

Kids just think sign language is cool and fun to learn, and teaching them the alphabet in sign language can be a really neat way to supplement lessons in phonics and writing letters.

They won't need to know full sign language. Just little bits and pieces of it can make early childhood fun.

Answer 12

I don't think it should be "required." But I think it's something they should be introduced to. I work at a preschool and the kids are taught simple words (e.g., please, thank you, more) as early as 18 months. The kids pick it up pretty easily and still use the sign language they've learned up until 3 and 4.

Answer 13

Required?

No.

I think later on in Kindergarten and first grade it would be nice along with a foriegn language.

Answer 14

I have heard and seen with the child of a friend that sign language is very helpful to a developing child. They are able to use language at a more sophisticated level with their hands than their mouths are capable of uttering.

Contrary to what has been said by anohter answer, it is not "a lot of trouble' for a young child to learn - learning is what young children do - they are little learning machines. What a great opportunity it would be to expand their worlds.