Implement Social and Emotional Programs Early for Success

Implement Social and Emotional Programs Early for Success

Time To Sign are the leaders in utilizing games, fun, songs, and American Sign Language to help our children become better social and emotional people.  "Social and Emotional People" are more compassionate, they don't bully; they care for their friends; and they have fewer errors in behavior. In fact, this is not just for young children. Time to Sign has programs for adult learners too. We have signing in the workplace and other great programs to help adults communicate.  Dr. Michael Hubler received his doctorate in early childhood, social and emotional learning and loves to find other people that believe the same thing. Read this great article by Laura Berg.

Every parent knows that young children love movement and actions. When you sing songs and put actions to them, children always want to perform those actions. For example, when you see a child singing ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’ he or she automatically starts making the motions of moving the spider “up the spout” and having “the rain fall and wash the spider out”. Actions help children remember the words to the song because there is muscle memory involved. The more senses involved in learning; the greater memory retention the child will have.

Research has demonstrated repeatedly that children retain what they learn through fun, Engaging Activities that encourage the use of GardnerÂ’s seven multiple intelligences:

1. Linguistic intelligence (sensitivity to meaning and order of words)2. Logical-mathematical intelligence (mathematic and complex logic systems) 3. Music intelligence (music or rhymes).4. Spatial intelligence (the ability to think in pictures) 5. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (movement and doing).6. Interpersonal intelligence (with other people).7. Intrapersonal intelligence (individual learning).

The use of American Sign Language (ASL) is a perfect way to supplement any preschool curriculum because it can be used with all of the multiple intelligences. In linguistic intelligence you always speak while making specific signs so students are being exposed to two different learning modes for one word.

With logic-mathematical, children can see a pattern of language and how it forms. Musical; you can add signs to common music or rhymes that the children already know. Bodily-kinesthetic; our hands are moving to make the signs so children can feel the words or letters.

In spatial learning, the child can see the sign being made. Interpersonal; the child can sign with a group, parent or teacher. And finally, with intrapersonal learning, the child can also sign when on his/her own when reading stories.

Well-known people are also beginning to realize that it is the early years of life that are crucial for future success. Laura Bush has stated that, “The years between diapers and the first backpacks will determine whether a child will succeed in school and make it to college.” First Lady Bush addressing the Senate Education Committee on January 25, 2002. Hillary Rodham Clinton asked physicians to suggest parents read to their young children, and she called for greater investment in children aged zero to three. (Lee Hochberg, 1997)

Children need a strong foundation to build on. We need to start educating and teaching our children at a very young age. Instill the love of reading and learning in them early so that it will stay with them throughout their lives.

Dr Michael Hubler and his wife Lillian are the founders of Time to Sign. They have 3 children of their own, and they see the difference when they implemented Sign Language and social and emotional learning with their youngest son at BIRTH - and their middle son was a little older when they started.  When you start early, you reap many more benefits with this program. Any time to start is a good one - however we propose that when you start early you will find many more benefits to the program.

 

Source: Laura Berg, Babies and Sign Language

Tags: time to signearly childhooddr michael hubler