One teacher at a local preschool said she has walked into a room full of screaming infants who quiet down after she signs the word "eat" to them.
Theresa Lauzon, the American Sign Language director at Carousel Preschool on France Street, said teaching infants sign language gives them a way to communicate. Before their vocal chords are developed, they can recognize words and express their needs to adults around them.
"Instead of crying and screaming, they (the babies) use their hands to talk," said Lauzon. "There's a bonding experience with the parents and with me as the teacher. They know as soon as I get there, they have someone to talk to."
According to Carousel, research has found that babies can construct language with their hands at least six to 12 months before they can speak.
Lauzon has been hearing impaired herself for approximately 12 years. None of the children at Carousel Preschool are deaf, but Lauzon said teaching them sign language from such an early age (Carousel is open to children from 5 months to 6 years old) helps with a variety of things.
Students learn to associate letters with words if they learn the ASL alphabet and how to spell their name before they learn to write. They can also teach their parents ALS after school, building confidence.
"The children love it, that's the most important thing. They have fun with it and love it," said Lauzon. "There are so many benefits."
On Tuesday, State Senator Bob Duff, D-25, visited the school and watched a class of 4-year-olds sign the alphabet. He was there to read to students and take a tour of the facility now that school readiness funding has been approved in the newly passed state budget.
Joyce Abate, the school's executive director, invited Duff, and shid she was grateful for all of his support of school readiness in Norwalk.
Abate noted that ASL has been taught at Carousel for the past year.
"Sign language teaching is part of the curriculum," said Abate. "It's amazing. Research has been done that shows what we're doing here has been done, and it works."
She added: "The children love it because to them, it's communicating."
by Lauren Mylo, the Norwalk Hour, Norwalk, CT
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