Baby sign language?

We did Baby Signs with Taylor and I'd highly recommend it. We used the Baby
Signs book by Acredolo & Goodwyn.

We used these books too! We had baby's first signs, baby's meal
signs, and baby's animal signs. DD loved these books and the meal
signs really came in handy. She could sign More, drink, hungry, done,
etc by the time she was 12 months or so. Cuts down on the
frustration.

Sunshine
DD 8/2002

"Zen Cohen" wrote in message ...
Who's tried it and what do you think of it? Is it something you can learn
to do effectively on your own or do you recommend taking a 'workshop.' (eg:
http://www.imaginationsigners.com/index.htm)

TIA.

We have used sign language with all three of our boys. We never used
any of the books specifically for baby signs, but just used a standard
ASL book and some web resources. The web pages that show videos of
the signs are very helpful to see the sign in motion. We have given
the book "Sign with your Baby" to several friends and they have all
loved it and used it. It advocates using real ASL whereas "Baby
Signs" is more relaxed about making up your own. Personally, I think
it's best to use real signs instead of making them up. Even if the
sign is a little more complicated, it's best to at least try it and
see what they come up with. Our boys have continued to learn ASL as
they've grown older, so it's been nice to have the right foundation.

Some people think using signs keeps the kids from talking because they
have another form of communication. Our experience has been the exact
opposite as all of our boys have been early talkers. Signing just
helps them communicate a little earlier. It's so nice when they can
tell you if they are thirsty vs hungry, or if they want to read a book
or play with the dog.

My youngest will be 1 on October 1st and he's able to tell us all
these things already and he gets so excited when we respond to his
signs. You can tell that he enjoys being able to be "heard".

~ Sher

(sher) wrote in
m:

Some people think using signs keeps the kids from talking
because they have another form of communication. Our
experience has been the exact opposite as all of our boys
have been early talkers. Signing just helps them
communicate a little earlier. It's so nice when they can
tell you if they are thirsty vs hungry, or if they want to
read a book or play with the dog.

the very first thing Boo's occupational & speech therapists
did when he entered Early Intervention (because he didn't even
babble by age 2) was teach him sign. i had been using a few
signs with him that he had 'made up' (but which were very
close to the ASL sign), but we added a few more.
according to the speech pathologist, sign actually makes it
*easier* for a baby to learn words.
lee

We tried and it and spent four weeks diligently signing at E who looked at
us like we'd lost our minds. She has started speaking early and has a huge
(for her age) vocabulary, but since we stopped singing when it was clear she
wasn't getting it, the signing has nothing to do with it. OTOH, a friend of
ours signed to her son and he picked it up right away and is still signing
because, at 17 months, he only has a few words (which is normal).

We took a two hour workshop, which taught us a bunch of basic signs, gave us
a book and told us how to move forward from there. I'd highly recommend
trying it even though it didn't work for us.

--
Melissa (in Los Angeles)
Mum to Elizabeth 4/13/03
and ??? due early 3/05

"Zen Cohen" wrote in message
...
Who's tried it and what do you think of it? Is it something you can learn
to do effectively on your own or do you recommend taking a 'workshop.'
(eg:
http://www.imaginationsigners.com/index.htm)

TIA.

Christina,

I totally agree. I sign with my son because he has expressive speech
delays. It certainly cuts down on the frustrations when he can tell me what
he wants or needs. Mick's Early Interventionist loaned us Signing Time and
I promptly when online and ordered the videos for us. I plan on teaching
the next baby sign language, but at an even earlier age.

lisa
micksmom
26 months old!
Baby 2: edd 2-7-05

"Christina" wrote in message
...
"Zen Cohen" wrote

Who's tried it and what do you think of it? Is it something
you can learn
to do effectively on your own

I can't recommend Signing Time (www.signingtime.com) highly
enough. The videos are excellent, fun for both kids and adults to
watch, and they make signing so easy to incorporate into daily
life.

The site that Nikki mentioned is very helpful as well.


Christina
mom to DS, 2.75 yrs
and Version 2.0, edd late April 05

"Christina" wrote in message
...
"Zen Cohen" wrote

Who's tried it and what do you think of it? Is it something
you can learn
to do effectively on your own

I can't recommend Signing Time (www.signingtime.com) highly
enough. The videos are excellent, fun for both kids and adults to
watch, and they make signing so easy to incorporate into daily
life.

Thanks so much for the link. I saw the sample clips and love them. I had
to order all three volumes. I'm sure DS will love them, too. I read the
baby sign books when he was 1yo, but I never signed to him because it didn't
seem natural to me, but I'm commited now with DD. I taught DS the sign for
milk and please yesterday. He caught on right away, of course. Funny thing
is I just started teaching DD, 7 mo, the milk sign and she seems to already
get it. I mean, I signed milk when she was getting fussy tonight and she
knew right away I was going to BF her. I swear, she caught on fast. With
both of them together, I figure they'll have each other to reinforce it.

I think this will be great for both of them, but I'm also hoping it will
help DS, who we think is partly hearing impaired. We're having him tested
soon so we can get the necessary treatment, but the signing will help there,
too.