Little Hands Can Say Big Things! Research shows that early exposure to sign language benefits all children, whether deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing. This resource introduces families and caregivers to 10 everyday signs through engaging illustrations and videos of Deaf signers. It offers a simple, fun way to begin signing with your baby or toddler.
Scroll below to start practicing the signs!
90% of a child’s brain development happens before age 5.
Early use of sign language with all children builds a strong language foundation.
Early access to sign language leads to improved cognitive, linguistic, and socioemotional development in the child that continues through school age.
For more information, contact real@gallaudet.edu
Project Lead
Lynette Mattiacci
Illustrator
Salvador Sanchez
The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University is a federally funded center with exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students and is tasked with developing and disseminating innovative curricula, instructional techniques, and products nationwide while providing information, training, and technical assistance for parents and professionals to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to age 21.
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