Drs. Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn launched the  movement of signing with hearing infants and toddlers. To see the National Institute of Health-funded research, visit www.BabySigns.com

In her book, Dancing With Words, researcher and author Marilyn Daniels shares that research demonstrates when signing is added to preschool curriculum, children not only find signing fun, but also, there is “significant improvement in receptive English vocabulary” and children retain information for a longer period of time. Daniel says, “vocabulary gains made in their pre-kindergarten years sustained throughout their kindergarten year and remained with them.”

In a recent study, Daniels showed that signs helped kindergarten children increase their speaking vocabulary as well as knowledge of sight words, letters of the alphabet, and phonetic sounds. Children who had problems remembering letters, words, or sounds were often able to recall needed information once they saw the sign for the word.
Early classroom experiences are vitally important to a child’s learning and academic success. Signing offers parents, teachers, and caregivers fun and educational way to meet the demands and requirements for increased early learning. When sign language is combined with spoken words and songs, children have a fun, multi-sensory, language-rich opportunity that:

•  Develops vocabulary
•  Increases language skills
•  Reinforces the learning of basic educational concepts
•  Develops reading readiness
•  Promotes an enthusiasm for learning