Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/american-sign-language/5024879/
Communication is at the heart of everything we do as humans. As the world becomes increasingly connected and technology creates more avenues for interaction, strong communication skills are more important than ever—and nurturing them has taken precedence in early education.
Establishing a foundation for strong communication skills occurs within the first five years of a child’s life, when brain development is most aggressive, according to the National Research Council (Shonkoff, Phillips & National Research Council, 2000). During this window of incredible learning opportunity, we are able to foster communication skills in children—even before they are able to speak—that will help them reach their full potential.
While it is not a new concept, American Sign Language is being used more frequently by teachers, parents and caregivers as the positive effects, such as stronger language development and increased confidence in children, are becoming more evident. According to research, children have the ability to use their hands to communicate long before they are able to form spoken words (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2010), and I have seen this proven repeatedly in classrooms across the country.
Sign language also empowers adults to communicate with infants and toddlers early in life and further strengthens the bonds ...