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Why Special Children Must Be Taught Sign Languages?

11th March 2022

Babies are the most special and mesmerizing creations of the Almighty. A baby is an angel that makes life more beautiful. The innocence of a baby’s soul is as pure as snow that falls on a mountain top. It is always a special moment for parents when a baby speaks for the first time. Babies show thousand of gestures and when they are too young to speak, their sign languages are a treat to watch.

Well, it is heartbreaking to say that there are some kids who do not have the ability to speak. Parents of special children having speech problems find it difficult to understand the common characteristics or feelings. SEN courses for parents preach the benefits of teaching sign languages to babies. Online special education courses for parents guide them to the fullest so that they can cater to their needs to the greatest extent possible.

WHAT IS BABY SIGN LANGUAGE?

Baby sign language is a fantastic approach to help your child communicate, allowing your non-verbal infants or toddlers to express their needs when they have difficulties in speaking. With special sign language, the interaction with babies becomes smoother and the requirement to give instructions to them is lesser.

For parents of gifted children, teaching sign languages to infants and children is really a tough job. It takes lots of patience because they have to repeat specific gestures and signs as babies require plenty of time to learn those. SEN courses are available in online mode and parents can take lessons in a self-paced format, i.e., they can easily sit comfortably at their homes and learn the nitty-gritty of the entire procedure.

Let’s talk about common baby signs that are beneficial for the long term. There are certain basic gestures that infants must be taught like hunger, thirst for milk or water if they need anything more, and so on. Parents of special kids have said that all are born communicators and they are smart enough to communicate in one way or the other. That is why, though it takes some time babies can learn sign languages effectively.

THESE SIGNS MUST BE TAUGHT TO BABIES:

Sleep: Hands together and supporting a tilted head.

Hungry: A rubbed belly.

Eat/food: Tapping the tips of fingers to mouth (like you’re eating) with palm face down and thumb touching fingers.

Milk: Squeeze fingers in and out (like you’re squeezing a cow’s udder).

Drink: A cupped hand placed to the mouth.

More: Touch fingers to the thumb on each hand and then touch hands together at the fingertips repeatedly.

All done: Fingers facing up, twist your hands back and forth.

Up: Arms up.

Down: Palm facing down, with index finger pointed to the ground, and then lowering hand.

Mommy: Tap your thumb to your chin (open palm, fingers facing up).

Daddy: Tap your thumb to your forehead (open palm, fingers facing up)

WHY SIGN LANGUAGES ARE BENEFICIAL?

Some kids having special gifts like autism, ADHD, etc., find communicating frustrating, and often have speech problems. This results in behavior problems (tantrums, crying, screaming, or hitting) when they’re not being understood properly. Parents of specially-abled kids have shown that language delays are a risk factor in behavior patterns in babies. Baby sign language is effective enough to eradicate this problem by offering a means of expression.

Parents must always consult a therapist or an expert who can diagnose the kids properly and can suggest the best approaches needed. SEN courses have the motto of helping every parent having special children to understand their thought processes and spread tons of love.