Toddler sign language?

[the_juniper_tree]

My son is 13 months old and doesn't talk much yet, though he is very smart and makes up his own gestures to show me what he wants.

Does anyone know of any good resources on baby sign-language. Also, have any of the other mommas here been experienced with it? Did it work well for you?

Thanks in advance,
Raven~

[IlluminatedAttic]

If your kids watch TV then Signing Time is a great resource. Many of the dvds are available at libraries and some parts of the country still show some episodes on PBS. If the kids don't watch TV but you do I still suggest you get a hold of some to watch because one great thing about them is that in addition to an adult showing you the proper formations of each sign they show several different young children using the sign. This way you see the typical approximations toddlers make and will more easily recognize your child's efforts. Signing Time is also, to my knowledge, the only program that uses all true ASL signs. The other popular programs are all combinations of some ASL, some Signed-English and some "we're making up a few signs for our program because we think the real sign is too difficult for children". One word of caution, the songs on the dvd are cute enough but are of the type that sear themselves into your brain and you find yourself unintentionally humming the tunes while cooking dinner.

The real key to success with sign language with children is consistency. Pick a few signs to begin with, like 'more' and 'eat' and 'drink', and use them every. single. time. As long as you are consistent the child will pick-up the signs quickly. As with spoken language though realize that comprehension precludes usage so he may understand your signs for a few days or weeks before he begins using them. Since you have older children I would teach them the signs and encourage everyone to use them with the baby as this will help make them significant to him. My ds (an only child) used only a couple of signs for a few months but after we attended a free sign language story group one day he suddenly began using dozens of signs he had see me using. Something about seeing more people use them just helped the connection click in his brain.

You can follow a program if that suits your style but there are plenty of free resources available to teach you signs. Libraries always have "The Joy of Signing" and other sign language dictionaries. Online you can see some signs being performed for free here and here, or for a small monthly fee here.

Have fun!

[mary3mama]

My 21 month old daughter (3rd child in family) doesn't choose to speak much, but it's clear that she understands everything. We started signing very intentionally with her about 6 months ago and she's really flourished with it. It has not held her back in speech development, either, as she just adds the vocalizations to the signs when she wants to.

We got board books at the bookstore and started with 2 of those. Then we added Signing Times DVDs from the library. Baby Einstein has a signing DVD out too, with Marlee Matlin. My daughter actually likes that one more than the Signing Times ones.

One thing that we have found helpful is to introduce one new sign at a time and not give her another one until that one is mastered -- unless she sees something and wants to know it's sign.

Oh, and we went with tangible, daily-life stuff first...things, colors, animals.

She now knows loads of colors and items and uses them all the time.

HTH,

[the_juniper_tree]

Thanks, ladies!

Do you guys think that 13months is too young?

[IlluminatedAttic]

Originally Posted by the_juniper_tree

Thanks, ladies!

Do you guys think that 13months is too young?

Not at all! I started signing to my son when he was an infant (I minored in ASL at college so I had a good base). By six months he started using the sign for "milk" when he wanted to nurse. By nine months he was using "more" and maybe three other signs. It was just after his first birthday when we attended the playgroup I mentioned in my earlier post and he went from around half a dozen signs to dozens within a few weeks. His best little friend didn't start until after 16 months old. She watched the Signing Time dvds a couple of times a week (Her Mom introduced them to me one day when we were commenting about both using signs.) and her Mom used the signs consistently with her throughout the day. She was an avid signer with dozens of words by the time she was two and where as my son has let go of using most of the signs in his daily conversations, she has continued to use them as she helps teach her little sister.

[CortLong]

We signed with our son (who didn't talk much) VERY regularly until he started talking better. We started at 10 months old and he did 3 signs well within 3 weeks! After that he continued to flourish and signed appx. 150 signs within 5 months. He has just now turned 2 and is starting to talk.

We aren't big TV folks but I can't say enough good things about signing time : They have books and other products as well- but I liked the show (I would watch with him) because it helped me (and the older girls!) to learn the signs so that we could use them with him.

[onyxravnos]

not too young at all. I Second baby signing time DVDS just sit down and watch them with your LO while doing it (or watch them yourself if your LO is a no tv kid) and then just use them whenever you use the word. "Milk" is normaly one of the first to get used for us nursers!
All the signing time DVDs are fantastic!

Just use it every time you use the word. don't worry about correcting his signs if they are a little off just YOU keep doing them correctly.

[Momma Aimee]

There are a ton of resources out there.

My son is almsot 3 and non-verbal. we do a lot with sign. a lot. he is learning it fast now. Even as he start to talk we are continueing with ASL -- we hope to be a bi-lingual family.

I have these adn i am happy with them. American Sing Lanugage flash cards by sing2me....

http://www.amazon.com/Sign2Me-Flashcard ... 601&sr=8-1

here is a book i like -- Teach Your Tot to Sign: The Parents' Guide to American Sign Language --- http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Tot-Si ... 805&sr=8-1

it has a lot of signs useful with kids (pool) that are not in the baby sign books

Baby Sign Language Basics (Hay House Lifestyles) -- http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Language-Bas ... y_b_text_b

this one is nice and small and fits in my bag

I do NOT have this -- but I want it

Signing Smart with Babies and Toddlers: A Parent's Strategy and Activity Guide
http://www.amazon.com/Signing-Smart-Bab ... K1AJ20EB40

I am looking at this too -- in a year or so -- when Theo is better at games -- I will count it as speech and lang time for pk too

http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Bud-4102341- ... SY1F71SGVP

and here is another thing i am thinking of useing as i make ASL part of our homeschool

http://www.amazon.com/American-Sign-Lan ... SY1F71SGVP

and


http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Sign-Fun-Wa ... SY1F71SGVP

go to Amazon.com ---- follow any of these links -- then just "look around" at what you can link to from that page -- it will get you started.

[the_juniper_tree]

Cool! Thanks very much for all of the resources!!!!!!!!!!!!! I appreciate it.
:

[rbeaufoy]

Originally Posted by the_juniper_tree

Thanks, ladies!

Do you guys think that 13months is too young?

Definitely not! We started signing with both kids from birth...ds started signing back at 11 months, and dd at 9 months. They started understanding signs before that even. It has made toddlerhood much less complicated for us!

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by the_juniper_tree

My son is 13 months old and doesn't talk much yet, though he is very smart and makes up his own gestures to show me what he wants.

Does anyone know of any good resources on baby sign-language. Also, have any of the other mommas here been experienced with it? Did it work well for you?

Thanks in advance,
Raven~

We have singed with both boys since birth -- Theo started to sing at 11 montsh, and CAP is 10 months and already signs PLAY but that is all.

13 months is no where too young.

A

[puddle]

Just another comment to say Signing Time rocks! If you don't want your kids watching TV, then at least get the videos to watch yourself! It's a really easy way for you to pick up some words so that you can teach your dc. We get it on PBS.

[slinginhipmama]

I signed with both my boys, however, ds1 wanted no part of it (I tell people he has talked since birth ) I guess he figured "why sign when I can just say what I want?" Ds2 was a totally different story, he began signing back to us at 7 mos (milk was his first sign) and then continued until he was two. He was a later talker, but I swear that signing helped him become less frustrated when he didn't have the words to say. And can I just say how much I LOVE signing to them even now when I don't want to yell across the room to "get down" or "stop" or "no"