yet another benefit...

we all know there are so many benefits to signing, right?   countless, countless, benefits!  from reducing frustration, to higher vocabulary, to better social skills...the list is endless.

well, just recently, i discovered yet another benefit.  i'm not quite sure how to put it in words, yet, but i will do my best.

i was showing my son a picture of a police car, and i said to him, "look, it's a police car".  he looked at me, and signed "please" and said "please car".  huh.

a couple days later, we were squeezing limes into our water.  and i said, "do you want some lime water".  he looked at me and signed "lion".  alrighty.

what just happened for me, was i got a glimpse into my little guy's head.  i got a chance to understand what he's hearing.  how he understands what i'm saying to him.  sure, the words aren't quite right, but it shows me how what i'm saying gets processed through his little mind.  all these new words.  he takes it in, but has to filter it through what he already has in that little mind of his.  and sometimes it sticks, sometimes it's connected to something else.  whatever happens, had he not had signs, i could easily assume that a) it's going in one ear and out the other  or b) he understands exactly what i'm saying.

however, with his signs, i now realize that it's not just a) or b).  what is sometimes going on is that he does hear what i'm teaching him, but he also is working things out.  so, for right now, in his mind "please cars" drive around, and we drink "lion water."  and as he works it all out in his mind, i'm ok with that :)

Don’t Let APRIL 1st fool you!

Look at this billboard, isn’t it brilliant?!

On my way home, I saw this billboard: “APRIL”. I looked twice, and saw the L signed! No, this is not a sign for the deaf
community, nor for baby sign language classes. This is a promotional billboard for FOX studios. Right here in Los Angeles, Southern California. 

Signing comes as naturally, and anyone can do it! It is iconic and simple! I have witnessed children signing taking sign language classes, or not. With stay-at-home mommies or working parents. Sign Language is everywhere!

Today, look around, can you find Sign Language in your daily routine, on your home? Point it to your children and share this special moment.

Let the Sign Shine!
etel

Etel Leit, M.S. Founder & Owner www.SignShine.com Publisher www.BabySignShine.com

Clarify with Colors

Do you know the colors of the rainbow?


My daughter is starting to sign colors. I love it. I did not realize how it could help in clarifying her specific needs and wants.

This morning as she was hungry and said "sit," I went to put her in her green booster chair at the table. She was getting very upset with me as she continued to say "sit." I then went to sit down with her in my lap at the kitchen table next to her booster chair.

Still not working... I was stumped. Then I looked to the corner and remembered the high chair. She immediately felt heard and understood as I helped her "sit" in the high chair and almost chuckled out loud as I said and signed "orange" "chair"(being that the highchair is lined with an orange cushion)to help clarify what she could sign and say to me next time.

Speaking of clarifying, I also am signing "color," "paper," "time," and "out" more often now that my daughter is quite into colors and coloring... which does not always include on the actual "paper." As she sits on the "orange" carpet circle that we have for thinking time, I repeat the signs, "color" (draw) on "paper." I am clarifying as well... where I'd prefer the colors to be.

I sign "time" and "out" for time out or in the past with my other children I have used "thinking" "time."

Enjoy Signing your Colors! and have fun being creative with using colors in helping understand your child's needs and wants as well as expressing your own needs and wants!

Signs for Colors

Written by Shawna Tran: www.mybabydetails.com

Sign Language for Babies

Baby sign language is one of the most rewarding things by far that I have tried with my own children. There are many benefits that have been discovered in the scientific research, shared at classes and documented on websites however I want to share a few of the most special moments that signing has provided our family over the past 13 months. My story is fairly long so stay tuned over the coming weeks as I tell it...here is part 1.

Scarlette is 17 months old now and we introduced baby sign language to her at the age of 4 months. We understood that it would be a long time until she signed to us but we were keen to see her reaction nonetheless. What I didn't expect at this tender age was the feeling that she actually understood us.

It did take a couple of weeks but she would intently watch us, and eventually we get an indication that she actually understood that we were communicating with her. At this early age there was no way that she was going to have the muscle control or the dexterity to sign to us however there were some important things that we could tell her - for instance that it was time for a bath, time for milk or time for bed. This proved to be very beneficial in these early months.

In part 2 I will let you in on some of the major milestones as she discovered how to communicate with her little hands...to be continued.

Opposing Views: Please, THANK YOU, Sorry - Teach basic manners with sign language.

Opposing Views: Please, THANK YOU, Sorry - Teach basic manners with sign language.

5 Minutes Peace

Sometimes I am grateful for still having sign language in my family.

Even though my children are not fluent in ASL, they started signing at 6 1/2 months and are still able to use basic sentences and have a fairly large vocabulary. So I have decided to implement a new form of discipline in my home… with two boys, almost 11 and 9 yrs old, there’s a lot of excitement and activity.

When I need 5 minutes peace, I just begin signing to my kids instead of raising my voice. Most of the time, it quiets them down like when a teacher begins to whisper. And it encourages them to sign to each other as well.

check out www.mybabyfingers.com for stories, resources, books & DVDs, webinars and more.

start small

when first starting to sign with children, it can be a bit overwhelming. this is true with signing with babies, and can be even more so with older children, and with children with special needs.

my advice...start small.

pick what is really important. what do you find yourself saying every single day with your child?

once you figure that out, learn the sign, and sign it. over and over and over!

take a couple signs a week, and practice them. you'll see, it doesn't take long before what seemed like an overwhelming job, once broken down into smaller jobs, now doesn't seem so overwhelming.

and don't forget to have fun!