At KidsPlanet, children as young as toddlers (18 months) are introduced to American Sign Language (ASL). Studies suggest that teaching babies to use signs and gestures to communicate accelerates their verbal development. Children who learn to sign as babies outperform their peers on IQ assessments, even by as much as 12 points.

Teaching ASL helps students become more engaged in learning. Signing involves physical movement, which adds a kinesthetic element to learning. This physical movement engages students’ bodies as well as their brains, giving them a more intensive and multi-sensory learning experience. In addition, the physical involvement in learning pays off. Studies show that when words are presented orally, visually, and kinesthetically (through sign language), children will remember what they learned more easily.