Why ASL for Hearing Children?

        American sign language is a useful and fun communication tool for hearing children approximately 8 months to 5 years of age. Whether an auditory, visual or kinesthetic learner, ASL brings another dimension to speaking, listening and responding. And because it is solely a physical expression, visual communication makes stronger social connections between teacher and student, and between words and their meanings.

Incorporating ASL into every Talk-n-Drum curriculum was an experiment that proved to me that gestures and mime are natural social languages for all young children. And when something comes that easily and makes learning that much more fun, it makes sense to practice it! One of our missions as the creators of the Talk-n-Drum program, is to build community by embracing diversity, and teaching ASL raises children's awareness of deaf culture.