What does the Research Say?

Recent research reveals that Signing with books:

[click on the picture to view Tosca and Pheonix read and sign:]

1. Develops the imagination of both the child and the parent.
2. Promotes rich meaning to reading making it a fun and inviting experience for those involved.
3. Associates reading with positive experiences and opportunities for interaction – get the whole family involved!
4. Motivates to develop literacy skills.
5. Makes the child an ACTIVE participant: the book is more interactive since the child is involved in the PROCESS of reading while signing along with the book.
6. Offers a view into a child’s mind and understanding of a child’s memory. Children sign what is important to them.
7. Reminds parents and teachers to introduce new signs and to reinforce familiar signs.
8. Creates opportunists to sign and talk about the alphabet.

Let the Sign Shine!
etel

Etel Leit, M.S.
Founder & Owner http://www.signshine.com/
Publisher http://www.babysignshine.com/
310.613.3900 etel@SignShine.com


Thank you for voting SignShine Best of LA 2009!

Words & Signs that Sound & Look Similar

There are many words that sound similar as my 18 month old is talking up a storm now. She is starting to mimic words so clearly, but there are many words that become clearer with signs.

Take for instance, my two year old nephew. Last night he was walking by me and signed “where’s” and then said dobby. Uh, I was not sure if he was asking where the dog was or his dad, so I signed with a question on my face, “where’s daddy” or “where’s doggy?” He then ran off as I saw his hand go up to his head. He was looking for his dad.

My daughter, at 18 months, is signing with her own approximation of the sign. Before ever trying to figure out which word she is trying to say, I try to get to know her structure of signing. Some signs look very similar, so when the words and signs sound and look similar, I need some extra clues to help me out.

For words that sound the same and signs that look the same, I use these three clues:

ask myself What’s the Context of the Situation

ask myself What is the Approximation of the Sign

ask her Which Sign are you Signing, asking for Clarification of Sign

For example, these are some of the words that sound Very similar in her vocabulary:

juice, rice, and cheese (sounds much like “choosh”)

The signs for juice and rice look very similar shown by a big wave of her first from high to low where as the sign for cheese is shown by her palm of one hand moving on her other arm.

For these three words, it’s a matter of recognizing what she may have just saw on the counter or in the refrigerator (Context of the situation), recognizing if it’s the big movement of the one arm in the air or if it’s the movement of the palm against her other arm (Approximations of signs), or the third clue is when I have used context and approximation of the signs and then ask “which one” (Clarification of object being signed).

The FOURTH important step is reemphasizing the sign. You can do this by saying/signing words such as, “good signing/good talking” (making sure to emphasize the sign of that word). Many times I find myself repeating a word after my daughter and then saying, "Good Talking." You can also ask your child to sign the word again as you repeat the sign.

Taking that extra step in emphasizing the word and sign can really help your child in his world of develop of speech and language! And it can help you too as you study the way in which your child speaks and signs the word for the next time.

Find out which clues work for you, and continue to enjoy the journey of communicating the many details with your children.

Written by Shawna Tran: www.mybabydetails.com

Communication! Whew!!

I was on the subway the other day when I saw a former client of mine, someone who had taken Baby Fingers classes for quite some time, when her baby was 3 - 15 months old.   He is jsut over 2 yrs old now.  

He was crying so hard, he could hardly breathe, let alone talk to his mom, and she couldn't figure out if he was scared, hurt, or something else.  Suddenly she reminded him to sign to her and he did! He signed "Friend-Stop!"  

We departed the train at the same time, so I was able to say hello and marvel at their conversation.  She further explained to me that they had passed the subway stop where her son's best play group friend lives and he desparately wanted to go play!!  

Fortunately, he wasn't hurt, but to our babies and toddlers, when things don't go their way- and especially if they can't communicate that to you- it certainly feels like an emergency.  I can still  remember the relief I felt when my children were signing before they were talking-- and once they were talking, the sign still helped to clarify their speech or gave them an outlet when the speech just couldn't.  

Communication!  Whew!!

www.mybabyfingers.com 

Signing Songs is a Magical Experience

'One definition of "magic" is when something happens without apparent effort. As teachers engage their children in signing songs to learn the ABCs, build phonics skills, accelerate language and literacy skills, create enthusiasm for learning, provide memorable parent performances, and utilize children’s multiple intelligences in building and expressing language, they discover why we call this method the "The Magic of Signing Songs."

- Nellie Edge

I invite you to sing and sign with us and create a MAGIC.

click here to view songs clips (scorll down).

- Twinkle Star
- Itsy Bitsy Spider
- The Wheels on the Bus
- I Love You (Barney Song)
- If you Happy and you Know it
- Clean up song- You are my SignShine

Let the Sign Shine!
etel


Etel Leit, M.S.
Founder & Owner http://www.signshine.com/
Publisher http://www.babysignshine.com/

What do You Need? Where Does it Hurt?

Lots of questions for our sick little ones.

As we all hope for healthy children, the ability to communicate with our children when they're sick makes a world of difference... not just for the child but for the caregiver too!

The other night my 18 month old daughter was not feeling well. I signed "where" and "hurt" (some times signing "hurt" right where I believe she may be hurting). My son had just had an ear infection, so I was signing hurt at my ear. I then went on to take her temperature and gave her some medicine. Upon going to sit down for a little bit until she calmed down, she seemed rather restless, and I asked what's wrong whereupon she signed "sleep."

She wanted to go back to sleep in her bed.^_^

Here are some more signs that come in handy when our little ones are sick and when we desire badly to understand their needs, furthermore wanting to eliminate feeling helpless to those needs. And although eliminating that helpless feeling is rather impossible at times, we can feel more in control and find patience in the comfort of communicating with signs.

SigningSavvy.com

What is Wrong (what is the matter): The sign WRONG is repeated while the head tilts forward.

Need: The bent index finger, X-hand moves up and down in a repeated movement.

Medicine: The middle finger makes a slight wiggling motion in the center of the palm of the opposite hand.

Fever: One index finger begins in the mouth and then runs up the side of the opposite hand's index finger.

Thermometer: The index finger acts as if it will be placed in the mouth.

Temperature: The F-hand slides up the opposite hand's index finger.

Sick: The touch fingers of both hands make a twisting motion at the forehead and the stomach.

Where: The index finger is held upward and shook.

Hurt: Both index fingers move inward as they twist.

Wait: Both Open 5-hands with palms up, fingers wiggle.

Doctor: The fingers of the right hand touch the inside of the wrist of the left hand.

Nurse: The N-hand is placed on the inside of the wrist.

Don't forget the most important sign, "I Love You."

written by Shawna Tran: www.mybabydetails.com

Commuincation and Resources

Communication is Key!

As people we are always looking to improve communication with our partners, our colleagues, friends and family.  As parents, we turn our focus to communication with our children.  

Incorporating sign language can be that key, opening up many new doors to language and speech.  

But once you learn some signs, how do you remember what they are---and to actually use them??  Join a class!  Take a webinar!  Watch a DVD!  Carry around a book!  

Baby Fingers offers classes around the NYC metro area, webinars for families around the globe, DVDs and a colorful board book series.  There are 5 books in our series--Baby Fingers: Teaching Your Baby to Sign--focusing on Greetings, Feelings, Routines, Favorite Things, and basic "need" based signs.  They are inexpensive and beautifully done thanks to Sterling Publishing, and they are small enough to fit into a diaper bag or purse.  It is convenient for you to have a resource at your fingertips--literally!--and fun for your little one to look at the color photos of other babies, toddlers, and preschoolers signing in these books.  

And it doesn't have to stop there.  Our Sign Language for Kids book offers ASL for school age children who would like to start learning or continue the process.  It's also a colorful dictionary of signs and tips for kids of all ages.  Next fall look for our ABC book!  Since signing with your baby helps to promote literacy skills, it's always great to have books around!

Commuincation is key and resources are plentiful.  I hope your journey through sign is as engaging and rewarding as mine has been with my own children.  You can read my story and find our resources at www.mybabyfingers.com.

Happy Signing!  :)

SignShine on KTLA Wednesday Morning Show

Click here or on the picture to watch SignShine families on a LIVE SET of KTLA Morning News Show.

Thank you for being part of our family!!

Let the Sign Shine!
etel


Etel Leit, M.S.
Founder & Owner http://www.signshine.com/
Publisher http://www.babysignshine.com/


Thank you for voting SignShine Best of LA 2009!