Parents often worry about choosing between spoken language and sign language.
But it's actually important to start offering both at an early age. Children are easily capable of learning multiple languages.
If a child is deaf and has no access to spoken language, offering sign language is very important.
If a child is hearing impaired and does have access to spoken language, you should offer spoken language as well, of course.
Research has shown that it's beneficial for later language development if you offer them multiple languages at a young age.
Europe has many languages. There are many opportunities for children to be raised bilingually...
...and to later learn a third or a fourth language.
If a nine-year-old child can speak French and Dutch, for example...
...it's a lot easier to then also learn German, for example. This is much harder for monolingual children.
That's why it's important for parents not to be forced to choose one language, but to offer both languages.