Communicating! Sign Language???

Amanda - posted on 03/26/2009

my son is 16 months and knows how to sign more which is helpful cause then i know if hes hungry, im still working on more signs with him but its takes awhile for them to catch on. good luck, def work at it

Raquel - posted on 03/26/2009

Hello all!  I am a huge advocate when it comes to teaching children sign language.  Here is the problem....American Sign Language is a language, just like English , Spanish, etc.  If you do not know the language fluently, how is your child going to learn it fluently?  See what I'm saying?  My husband is a teacher for the Deaf and we are both involved in the deaf community.  For my little one, singing comes naturally like English because we use it constantly like a language.  I've noticed that when she learns a new sign, in a week or so, she learns how to speak it in English.  She could sign "all done" and then a few weeks later she started saying it.  I encourage everyone to teach their child ASL.  Find out if your area has a deaf and hard of hearing community.  A lot of times the school will offer classes to teach hearing people, mommy and me classes, and other programs.  The School for the Deaf in my area offers a program for deaf  nursery school students to interact with hearing children.  I am definitely enrolling my daughter in that program!

Learning another language, spoken or visual is a wonderful thing!

Liza - posted on 03/05/2009

Weel my boy (2nd child) almost 16 months now also not walking on own and talking few words, but his sister now 2 1/2 yrs only realy started talking at 2 yrs and 4 months. Before that she had a sign language like people could not believe. She let you know on her own what she wanted and not. I always tried to say the words as well but did not looked like she cared. So they do start talking eventually - just trust your own instincts!

Heather - posted on 03/04/2009

My husband was in Iraq since my son was 4 weeks old, he is now 16 months old and Daddy is out-processing from the ARMY--so he is home sometimes, but won't really be 'home' until May when he is done.  The transition of Daddy being gone, then home, then gone again has thrown Kayne for a loop.  I truly believe that his ability to communicate his emotions to me is one of the reasons he doesn't act out or throw tantrums all of the time! 

  I started sign language since Kayne was very young, and now he knows that he doesn't get ANY kind of attention with screaming or whining (he sometimes still does it :-)) he has to ask to eat, or for milk or juice or whatever he needs at the time.   I found it helpful to get him board books to look at, play with, etc. while I was explaining the sign to him, he is playing with a book.  One of the most important signs to me has been the 'help' sign--he lets me know if he is hurting, or needs help--sometimes he even signs help when he just needs a hug.  It has worked so far and I am completely pleased. I see that many moms said that repetition is the key, and I truly believe that!

Good luck!

Karian - posted on 03/04/2009

Signing is great! I have worked with my son and he knows quite a few now...it took awhile to get the first one or two, but now he picks them up a lot quicker and it does help alleviate the moaning and screaming! I was leary at first because I didn't want him to be a late talker because of the signing, but after looking into it, I have been told that signing will actually help their language...once they start talking they will know how to use the words they sign and once they start talking will learn a lot more words quicker...hope it is working out for you! :)

Melissa - posted on 03/04/2009

Baby's First Sign's is a Baby Einstein DVD that my son has enjoyed.  He is 15 months old now and uses quite a few of the signs regularly.  He has started to try to say the words as well.  We're a bilingual household so another great feature of the DVD is that it also has the option to play it in English or Spanish (or French).  It keeps the DVD interesting and has helped him make the connection between words and signs.  

DeAnn - posted on 03/03/2009

Check at your local public library, there are many good baby signing books and DVDs! There are lots of web sites also. http://www.babies-and-sign-language.com/ I taught my baby "more" and "all done" for meal times. She is constantly signing for "more" now. I got tired of the whining for things... Now she can say some words and will combine the sign "more" and say "cracker" or "cheee" (cheese). Signing is supposed to help ease tantrums as babies learn to communicate what they want.

Lynn - posted on 03/03/2009

I used the "Signing Time" videos to teach both of my kids. Keep in mind that most kids can only do one new thing at a time, and frequently, when DJ is concentrating on mastering a new physical step his speech temporarily regresses.

Angela - posted on 03/02/2009

Baby einstein videos! My daughter is 15 months old and knows the signs for more, mommy, daddy, baby, milk, cereal and ball. It is so nice to ask matison do you want more and not get a bunch of grunts.

Rachel - posted on 02/22/2009

It sounds like your son would pick up signs quickly with the things you are describing. We started teaching our son signs around 6 mo. and once he got the hang of it (it took at least a month) we had a lot less screaming and whining at our house. Now when he whines I say "use your words please" (which are really his signs and a few words) and then I remind him what word or sign would be appropriate to use in that situation (all done, more, help, please etc.). It has been a life saver. Good luck in figuring it all out! Like others have said the key is repetition, repetition!

Jane - posted on 02/20/2009

My little boy has a few play phones and rabbits away with the phone held behind his head so that his hand is nearest his ear! As soon as you put a real phone with someone talking on it he just smiles and goes all shy! lol

Melody - posted on 02/20/2009

I gave my daughter my old cell phone to play with. I even kept the charger for it so that I could charge it for her. She loves to push the buttons and see it light up. When I'm on the phone, which seems to be a lot these days, she puts her phone up to her ear and acts like she's listening too!! It is so cute!!

Violet - posted on 02/19/2009

omg. my daughter does the same thing with the hello and up to her ear! lol.

she has milk and more down, but she only does it when i say it . lol.

Quoting Jane:

Melody, you are absolutely right. We have had quite a bit of snow lately and i kept doing a pretend shiver and saying "oooohhhh its so cold!!!" now when ever we say its cold he shakes his head (his way of trying to shiver!) it is very cute! Also whenever anyone says "hello" he puts his hand to his ear (as if on the telephone!). Perhaps these are signs that he would pick it up pretty quickly?

Jane - posted on 02/19/2009

Melody, you are absolutely right. We have had quite a bit of snow lately and i kept doing a pretend shiver and saying "oooohhhh its so cold!!!" now when ever we say its cold he shakes his head (his way of trying to shiver!) it is very cute! Also whenever anyone says "hello" he puts his hand to his ear (as if on the telephone!). Perhaps these are signs that he would pick it up pretty quickly?

Melody - posted on 02/19/2009

p.s....when he moans for the item, say the item and make it fun!! Laugh, make a silly voice or face. When my daughter whines for her milk, I say "miiilk?" and move my head up and down and then she tries to repeat it back to me moving her head the same way. What comes out doesn't make any sense but at least she's trying!!!

Melody - posted on 02/19/2009

When I would ask my daughter if she was "all done?" I would put my palms up and say "all done". Not doing it purposely...I'm Italian and speak w/my hands. Then one day she was eating and looked at me and did the same thing. I would say "all done" and she would shake her head yes and do the hand motion again. It is the cutest thing I've ever seen!! Now I just have to practice w/other words!!! Their brains are like sponges...if you constantly says something w/the hand jesture, I'm sure they'll eventually catch on. But it goes to show...as long as you and your baby understand the hand motion, it doesn't matter what that motion is!!!

Mary - posted on 02/18/2009

Baby Einsteins show sign language in several of the dvds. you and your child could learn them together this way. My oldest took the the Baby Einsteins like a fish to water, but my younger could care less and walks away.

As for speech development, he'll start talking when he's ready. My youngest started sooner than my eldest did, but he's also virtually stopped, and started, and stopped again. I think they are just focusing on something else (like walking), and haven't learned multitasking yet. Be patient, and praise anything he does right.

Charlene - posted on 02/18/2009

or I think Baby Einstien has a DVD as well

Jane - posted on 02/18/2009

Imgoing to see if i can get a book with the basics in.

Charlene - posted on 02/18/2009

I just started signing with my daughter a few weeks ago, I know a few basics that I practise, Milk, Banana, All done, Apple Mommy, Daddy. The secret is to practise practise practise...eventually they will get it!!

Jane - posted on 02/18/2009

Thanks very much, I'll have a look at that website. I think its worth a try as the moaning is driving us all mad! lol

Amber - posted on 02/18/2009

I taught both of my little ones ( 3 yr boy & 1 yr girl). My son never really took much to it, only used a few signs.. my daughter on the other hand is doing amazing and has 8 she uses regularly. Go here for help: http://deafness.about.com/cs/signfeats1/... don't be discouraged because it takes a lot of repetitive tries. feel free to email me at phleboprincess2002@yahoo.com i can help you more that way!