Do you allow baby signing time? - Page 2

[paulamc]

Originally Posted by Down2Earth

I think you need to decide what is your view of babies watching tv. There is a lot of information out there regarding the subject.

As I mentioned, we don't allow TV / DVDs otherwise - I have read the research. We have no plans to allow TV anytime soon. DS is 15.5 months old.

Originally Posted by Down2Earth

You don't need a dvd to teach your baby signs. I use this site a lot, aslpro, because it is really easy to navigate and the video clips really help with my signing. I have never used the baby signing dvds, so I can't say how well they work. But I can think of at least 30 signs my DD regularly uses and she understands much more and she is 14 mo.

Yes, I use this website regularly as well. DS started doing his first signs at 10 months of age, built slowly after that, and just recently seems to be going through a bit of an explosion. He was never particularly interested in the Baby Signing Time video until the last couple of months, so I know he can learn without it.

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It's partly for me, I guess. I know that I immediately picked up a large number of signs by watching BST Volume 1 and I regularly sign all those with DS now. I feel like we'll both end up with a bigger vocabulary if we go through the DVDs systematically, rather than just randomly looking up words when I think to do so. And he does love the music as well...

I have to say I'm still a bit conflicted after reading through the responses. I love the idea of his building a huge signing vocabulary so we can really communicate well through toddlerhood... . Maybe a set time each day like someone mentioned, and never outside that time. And not in the parlor where he plays, but in a different place where we don't spend much time perhaps, so he won't think about it when we're doing other activities.

Keep the responses coming if there are more thoughts out there because I'm not sure yet what we'll do.

[paulamc]

Originally Posted by almadianna

We love them, and swear by them. My daughter learned hundreds of signs and was able to communicate all of her needs with to us with no problems as a young age. She had no tantrums and her vocabulary is amazing.

This is interesting, Almadianna - just wondering, did/do you allow TV otherwise?

[almadianna]

Originally Posted by paulamc

This is interesting, Almadianna - just wondering, did/do you allow TV otherwise?

we did not at that age, we started when she was 8 or 9 months old. I dont remember. She knew all of the signs from the first DVD (we have regular signing times and i dont like baby signing times) in a week. We have 5 of the DVDs and have supplemented with the website mentioned above. I think the DVDs helped get her interested and into it after that we did not need them anymore.

[JBaxter]

we have our TV on alot but Jack could care less. Unless a pragram with music comes on he doesnt notice it exists.

[Down2Earth]

Originally Posted by paulamc

As I mentioned, we don't allow TV / DVDs otherwise - I have read the research. We have no plans to allow TV anytime soon. DS is 15.5 months old.

I guess I don't understand. I thought the Baby Signing Time DVD was a video you watch on TV. I know I've allowed my DD to watch a few youtube clips and other things, but I understand fully that all of that counts as TV watching, whether it is educational or not. No judgments, but I don't think a baby understands the difference between TV and signing dvds.
(I'm really making a mess of this response. I'm sorry. Please take everything I say in the most gentle of ways. This is only my opinion, and you are a great mama who loves her baby and you are doing what works for you and is right for your family.)

Originally Posted by paulamc

It's partly for me, I guess. I know that I immediately picked up a large number of signs by watching BST Volume 1 and I regularly sign all those with DS now. I feel like we'll both end up with a bigger vocabulary if we go through the DVDs systematically, rather than just randomly looking up words when I think to do so. And he does love the music as well...

If the videos help you to learn the signs then that is great. Keep it up.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Down2Earth

I guess I don't understand. I thought the Baby Signing Time DVD was a video you watch on TV. I know I've allowed my DD to watch a few youtube clips and other things, but I understand fully that all of that counts as TV watching, whether it is educational or not.

It's not the education, it's the pacing. I let Lina watch The Daily Show quite early since she treated Jon Stewart like she would any other adult who was sitting there talking on and on to her parents. (i.e. watch with mild interest for a while, tell him "hi!", then start nursing or playing), but I'm not going to let her watch Sid the Science Kid any time soon (if ever) because it's fast paced and jerky.