Does the thought of a signing baby bring to mind images of those super-babies who can speak four languages and play the piano by the time they’re eighteen months old? If so, you’re not alone. Many people mistakenly believe that sign language is something that only overachieving parents would use with their kids.

The fact is that babies who sign generally do have some developmental and academic advantages over their nonsigning peers. Does this mean you are pushing your child to be a genius or demanding super-intelligence from your toddler? Of course not. It simply means that you are giving your child an invaluable advantage that has multiple benefits.

Higher IQ Potential

Studies performed by researchers at the National Institutes of Health have indicated that babies who learn to sign end up with higher IQs as they get older. While there may be some merit to this finding, it is also important to remember the other factors involved.

Parents who sign with their babies are typically very involved in their children’s academic development. They may place a heavy emphasis on education and may often be intellectuals, themselves. They are likely to have studied all sorts of ways to give their children advantages from nutrition to educational experiences. All of these factors can help to contribute to higher IQs.

Does this mean that learning sign language does not improve IQ scores later in life? Not at all! It’s just worth noting that there are many reasons why a signing baby may grow up to be generally intelligent.

Improved Self-Expression

Another important benefit of baby sign language is that signing babies are better able to express themselves in all sorts of ways. That is, they are able to convey their thoughts and feelings in a way that nonsigning babies cannot. This ability may result in babies who are more confident and outspoken. They may come to understand the validity of their feelings earlier and understand that it is acceptable to express them.

The Multilingual Baby

Research studies at the University of Washington have proven that it can be beneficial to teach a baby more than one language. Babies are better able to learn a second (or third) language than older children and adults.

As they get older, children who are multilingual have an easier time adding additional languages to their repertoires. Being multilingual also gives them a better understanding of language in general, which could lead to better reading, writing, and comprehension skills.

American Sign Language (ASL) is a language all its own. For that reason, a baby who is taught ASL will enjoy many of the same benefits of a child who speaks two or more spoken languages, particularly if she continues to develop her signing skills into childhood. Even if you choose to use “home signs,” your child will still reap many of the same benefits. Explore the different methods of sign language instruction and to decide which method is right for you and your child.