Teaching American Sign Language to a hearing baby was once viewed as a fad, but parents now realize it is a valuable tool for communication with their children. Studies show hearing children who use ASL tend to have larger vocabularies, higher IQ scores, and learn to read sooner. My Smart Hands with Adele now teaches baby sign language classes to parents and children in Chattanooga.
"I am very excited to be part of an amazing educational company like My Smart Hands," said Adele Gant, an instructor with My Smart Hands. "I taught sign language to my niece and was amazed. I have been an advocate ever since. Now I am signing with my own seven-month-old who is just beginning to sign back.”
“She already recognizes and reacts to many signs and can indicate when she’s hungry or needs her diaper changed. It’s great,” she said.
"Many parents see wonderful benefits, including decreased tantrums, increased communication, and early reading skills. Some parents fear using sign language with their children will delay speech development, but in fact the opposite is true. Baby sign language reduces frustration, accelerates verbal development, and strengthens cognitive skills.
"Typically, children have a spoken vocabulary of no more than ten words by the time they are 12 months old. However, children have control of their hands, and therefore can use sign language, much earlier in life. Using ASL with hearing children allows parents to communicate with their children long before their children can speak."
My Smart Hands with Adele offers eight-week baby sign language courses to parents and children. In the Level 1 classes, participants are taught over 100 signs. Should they wish to continue, My Smart Hands offers a Level 2 class, which teaches another 150 signs.
Ms. Gant also offers private sessions and a “Create-Your-Own” class option, for parents/caregivers who want individual or semi-private class with their group of friends.
"Being able to communicate with my daughter before she can speak is so exciting,” said Ms. Gant. “I am so happy to be able to share this useful tool with other parents so they too can experience the benefits.”
For more information about My Smart Hands with Adele visit her online at www.MySmartHandswithAdele.wordpress.com, or find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MySmartHandswithAdele.