What is unusual for these parents learning American Sign Language is that their children — who are learning it — are not hearing impaired.

But the benefits the children reap by learning to sign are numerous, said Wylie, a developmental social worker who created the program for the Child Development Center, 4959 Utica Ridge Road.

Scott and Kari Ritchie of Davenport are learning to sign with their 21-month-old daughter, Adeline. Because Adeline is not at the stage where she can speak what she wants or her feelings, she signs them out.

And that, said Scott Ritchie, has led to less frustration on Adeline’s part.

"It certainly reduces the whining," he said. "She uses it mostly at the dinner table for now. It has improved her manners, too. She says ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ a lot more."

But it is also less frustration for parents because they know they are being understood by their children.

Andrea and Frank Amato said their children, Cade, 2, and Lauren, 5, both can sign. “Cade uses it more so now because Lauren is talking more,” Frank Amato said.

When Cade wants something, "it’s a lot faster for him to sign because he’s not really talking yet," Frank Amato said.

The ability to communicate before they can talk and the reduction in frustration are only two of the many benefits children get by signing, said Wylie, who developed the program and has used it successfully with her three children, ages 6, 4 and 2.

"I had this in my head for a couple of years," she said.

Parents who are worried their children will sign instead of talk have nothing to be concerned about, she said. "Children who sign actually speak earlier than kids who don’t sign," she said.

Among other advantages are:

n Children who sign tend to have a larger vocabulary.

n It enhances their self-esteem.

n They have an increased interest in books.

n It improves their emotional development.

n They engage in more sophisticated play.

n It builds greater brain function.

n It is a good introduction to a second language.

n Some studies show that children who sign have an IQ that is as much as 10-12 points higher.

Kathy Cooper, president and CEO of the Quad-Cities Child Development Center, said Wylie’s program fits well with the center’s goals for educating children.

"Julie signed with all her kids, and the results were amazing," Cooper said.

By Thomas Geyer
http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2005/11/10/news/hometowns/doc4372f12d6a1a6801755777.txt