16 ways to spell Hanukkah

Click here  to enjoy and practice Hanukkah Signs (see below 16 different ways to sign!)

Hanukkah : 8,470,000 hits.

Chanukah : 3,390,000 hits.
Hanukah : 862,000 hits.
Hannukah : 677,000 hits.
Chanuka : 335,000 hits.
Chanukkah : 274,000 hits.
Hanuka : 192,000 hits.
Channukah : 128,000 hits.
Chanukka : 116,000 hits.*
Hanukka : 86,300 hits.
Hannuka : 51,400 hits.
Hannukkah : 37,300 hits.
Channuka : 33,600 hits.
Xanuka : 992 hits.
Hannukka : 686 hits.
Channukkah : 508 hits.
Channukka : 489 hits.*
Chanuqa : 25 hits.



Let the Sign Shine,



etel






Etel Leit, M.S.


Founder & Owner www.SignShine.com


Publisher www.BabySignShine.com

ThanksGIVING Song - Sing with us and THANK your little one!

Click here or on the picture to view a HOW TO: Thanksgiving song and art project.
Let the Sign Shine with many forms of THANKS,

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

Impressive Expressive Signing

As seen here on the CBS news just this weekend, Signmark is the first rap artist. He was born deaf. And as he preforms in sign language, he is able to bridge the gap between both the music and deaf communities. He did just that in New York City during International Deaf Awareness Week.

Signmark began translating Christmas Carols into signs at a young age as he wanted to participate along with others. He became the first deaf rapper to land a record contract, and although he can't hear the music, he can feel the beat. His music and concerts are a shared experience for one and all. He strives to fight for equality between all cultures.

Signmark explains his journey towards becoming the first deaf rapper here. Take note: one of the songs does have a swear word in it. Subtitles are provided, so you can turn the volume off if impressionable ears are nearby.

For more news features such as from Hong Kong, check out his facebook page.

ACTIVITY IDEA:
As Thanksgiving is approaching rapidly, and your children may be home from school, try having them choose a song and learn the signs to that song. I remember having lip sink concerts all the time on those snow days where school was canceled. How about a signing lip sink concert?

As my youngest is 7 months old and is starting to use motions to communicate, such as waving his hand, I am even more encouraged to continue to teach him sign language. Enjoy the gift of sign language and the gift of family time this holiday season.

take care, Shawna

GREAT TOOL: What to do when you in a middle of..... and your child keeps interrupting?

What to do when you are in a middle of.....  and your child has something soooo important to tell you or to show you?

We have all been there more than once or twice. You are in a middle of a conversation with another adult, you are on the phone, or just finishing writing something down... your child has something SO important to say, or to show you! Now! Right Now! How will you respect his/her need to tell you this verrry important thing, and still feel your needs are met?

Click here or on the picture to watch the best tool that will save your day.

The joys of Baby Sign Language! 

Visit http://www.signshine.com/ for more information!

Let the Sign Shine,
ete

A Few More Sweet Signs

I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween.

Always find a way to be creative with your children. For instance, on the way home from school, we had a few errands to run. I had five children in the car, so to help them interact and keep their attention off the fact we were not home yet, I said "let's count how many houses have Halloween decorations."

Within a two mile distance, we counted 54 houses with decorations right to the front door of the friend we were dropping off at home.

I realize that with signing, there are MANY games to create too. Wouldn't it have been fun to add these Halloween signs, and say, "if you see a ghost decoration, sign ghost" and so forth.

Please feel free to share with us those fun games you have created at home or on the road and continue to enjoy the details of signing with your children!

Funny, Scary & Happy Signs

Halloween is peeking around the corner! What a great opportunity to review a few signs before the big day! Personally, I find that holidays are perfect for introducing novel signs to your child.


For example, “SCARED” or “CANDY” or “HAPPY”! Helping them to better express themselves around holidays will make the changes less threatening, more exciting, and best of all, MORE FUN!


Take a few minutes today and review a few of our suggested Halloween signs and have a WONDERFUL Trick or Treat Day!

Click here and for advanced signs here or on the picture to view MORE Halloween Signs!

Let the Sign Shine,

etel

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

dancing with your hands...

so often, i've heard (and said) that signing is so much more than saying words with your hands.  it's not just about using your hands to label something, whether it be an object, an emotion, or an action.  it's obvious, when you see people signing, that it's not just their hands moving, but their faces, and their bodies.  so much is said beyond the hands. 

for babies, signing is a key to unlocking a world of communication that might not otherwise be opened until many months later.  babies learn the importance of non-verbal communication by cuing into facial expression, body language, and even the feelings that come along with communicating. 

i recently was told an amazing comment after teaching a baby signing class.  this mother explained that learning and using sign language is more than what she expected... that she can actually feel what she is saying... essentially, that signing is emotional.  she compared it to dancing.  she is a dance teacher, and related the movements of dancing to communicating with signs.  it's not just about the movements... it's so much more than that.

(and thank you to that wonderful mommy... you know who you are :)  )