Teach Your Child to Use American Sign Language

It can be a bit challenging beyond the infant stage, but every child, deaf or hearing, can be taught to use American Sign Language (ASL). As for a hearing baby, there are different ways to get him or her signing with you. Choose the one that works best for your lifestyle and your child's need.

The Hard-Line Strategy.

You stop voicing and begin signing. Try your best to ignore vocalizing by responding in signs. This technique can be tough on both parent and child but often works well and quickly.

The Graduated Method.

You sign to your child and then tell him in voice what you mean in signs. Then, encourage him to sign to you and then tell you in voice what he means. Eventually, both you and your child will use only ASL.

The Gentle Approach.

You speak and sign words but avoid vocalizing for classifiers. You can say a word and your child can give you a descriptive classifier for it. If you say a verb or an adjective, your child can give you a facial or torso expression that modifies it.

Teach your child ASL can be fun and rewarding. It will be cool one day when our American society will be like the 17th-19th century Martha's Vineyard Island where everyone spoke sign language.