There are pros and cons about teaching infants sign language. What is your opinion?

Question

There are pros and cons about teaching infants sign language. What is your opinion?

Answer 1

One con is that they don't learn to talk as soon, because they just sign instead.  I saw this with my friends child.  Our boys are the same age and mine was talking all the time, and hers would just sign the few things he knew.  I see it as a pro when it is needed due to comprehension problems, or communication problems, etc.....It can be a really good thing, but I think in an otherwise healthy child it is not needed.

Answer 2

what con? they communicate better and more clearly,they dont scream incoherently and whine when they need something.  you can communicate better with them.  the con is they stop using it and start communicating more clearly at a younger age than peers?  because they know they need to articulate nouns and verbs if they want to be understood.

Answer 3

i say that is it nice to do things to make your kid smarter, but thats the point in being little, you dont need the stress. kids are supposed to be innocent and ignorance. and the more you know the more complex things get, so let them be ignorant for there time. they can grow up when they are ready

Answer 4

I agree with mudpup, what con!  Its great, easy to learn, lots of benefits.  THe only cons I can think of, if you can call them cons, is that they drop it when they learn to talk unless you keep at it (my 4 year old has got interested in it about a year ago when her sis was born and loves to use it and seemed to remember a lot of what she used as an infant)  Also, at times they start creating their own signs and they remember signs easier than adults so it can be humorous the stuff they come up with that you have to look up or figure out!  I did it for both my daughters and plan to do it again!  NO CONS!!  It is NOT forcing them to grow up quicker, to them it is much less frustrating then not being understood and it is almsot a game to them.  AND, it does NOT impede language and learning to talk!!  Saying it forces them to grow up is like saying Peekaboo is forcing them to grow up!

Answer 5

I can't think of a con.  As a Kindergarten teacher, I teach my students sign language to help enrich each life.  The kids LOVE it, and if you start simple (letters, numbers, colors, etc.) you can use it to help teach how to properly form sentences. I always teach my students a new complete sentence to say to their family when they get home.  I noticed my first year of teaching sign language in the classroom that the students learned to recognize letters faster.

Answer 6

It's kinda cool for awhile, but they outgrow it because words are easier and faster.