Baby Sign Language – 5 Reasons Why You Should Sign With Your Baby

Baby Sign Language has been getting some great reviews and is becoming increasingly popular with new parents. It’s big in America and is growing in popularity in the UK and Australia; in fact parents worldwide are discovering the benefits of using Baby Sign Language.

So what’s Baby Sign Language all about?

Baby Sign Language or (Baby Sign) is the method of using sign language to communicate with babies before they can talk.

Sign language has always been used within the Deaf community for communicating with babies and children, but recent research has highlighted the benefits of using sign language with hearing babies as a means of early communication.

Babies develop motor skills earlier than speech; this is a basic biological fact. So it makes sense that a baby would be able to sign before it could speak. In general babies can sign by about 7-8 months old as this is when the memory is developed enough to store and use the signs. This is well before comprehendible speech which can start from about 12-18 months.

Common misconceptions such as Baby Sign is only for deaf children or using signs will delay speech have been proven wrong. In fact quite the opposite has been proven to be true!

Top 5 reasons for using Baby Sign Language

1. Signing with your baby increases IQ.Tests showed that a group of eight year olds who had used Baby Sign as infants scored an average of 12 points higher IQ than their non-signing counterparts. The same group also scored above average in their SATs.

2. Signing with your baby increases communication and language skills.Babies who sign tend to speak earlier and have a wider vocabulary and a greater understanding of language than their non-signing peers. Plus they show more interest in books!

3. Signing with your baby decreases tantrums and frustration.Babies who sign have the means to express themselves and be understood this can greatly reduce the tantrums associated with ‘the terrible twos’.

4. Signing with your baby increases self confidence and self assurance.Because your baby can express herself she will gain confidence, she will feel happy and contented and safe in the knowledge that she can be understood by the adults around her.

5. Signing with your baby deepens the bond between parent and child.

You will develop a closer bond with your baby as you fully understand his needs and wants, and you have a unique insight in to his thoughts and how he perceives the world around him much earlier than you would without signs.

We all want our kids to be Baby Einsteins, right? We all want our kids to be confident and happy. We all want to give our kids the best start in life!Baby Sign Language is easy to learn and the joys that it brings when your little one can have a conversation with you at 7 months old are well worth the effort.

There are many Baby Sign companies that offer local classes which are a great way to meet other parents and join a group, but if you are too busy or there is no local class near you, you can buy books or DVDs or find resources online – try doing a search for ‘learn baby sign online’.

Hopefully this article has stirred some interest in you and inspired you to discover the joys of signing with your baby!

Nicola Smout is a qualified BSL (British Sign Language) Baby Signing Teacher and mum to a 2 year old signing baby boy. She educates people in the joys of Baby Signing and the benefits that Baby Sign can bring to both parent and child.


For more information about signing with your baby visit www.babysignonline.co.uk

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is american sign language counted as a language on college applications?

my daughter is interested in taking american sign language as her language, but i’ve heard that some colleges do not accept sign language as a language. could someone confirm if the majority of colleges do/do not accept american sign language?
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“Lucky” in ASL (DUET!!)


“Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, expressed in American Sign Language. My partner is Aaron. You can find him at www.youtube.com/abronste ALSO! Add yourself as a FAN on my Facebook Fan Page! www.facebook.com (or search Ally ASL!) [All lyrics and music are property and copyright of their owners. I am not the owner, nor do I take any credit.] Lyrics: Do you hear me, I’m talking to you Across the water across the deep blue ocean Under the open sky oh my, baby I’m trying Boy I hear you in my dreams I feel your whisper across the sea I keep you with me in my heart You make it easier when life gets hard I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend Lucky to have been where I have been Lucky to be coming home again Oooohhhhoohhhhohhooohhooohhooohoooh They don’t know how long it takes Waiting for a love like this Every time we say goodbye I wish we had one more kiss I’ll wait for you I promise you, I will I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend Lucky to have been where I have been Lucky to be coming home again I’m lucky we’re in love in every way Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed Lucky to be coming home someday And so I’m sailing through the sea To an island where we’ll meet You’ll hear the music, feel the air I’ll put a flower in your hair Though the breezes through trees Move so pretty you’re all I see As the world keeps spinning round You hold me right here right now I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend Lucky to have been where I have been Lucky to be coming ….

What is the best American Sign Language program to use to learn sign language?

I want a software that’s good! I have been looking online, but there doesn’t seem to be many options and when I find something; there is no reviews on it. I was watching these videos on You Tube but the replys from other viewers was that she was doing it wrong. So apparently there is ASL and SEE sign language. I want to learn ASL!
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Why Teach A Hearing Baby Sign Language?


Why Teach A Hearing Baby Sign Language?

Many parents wonder why they should teach their baby Sign Language if their hearing is just fine. Isn’t that introducing something unnatural and unnecessary? The answer is no. It is perfectly natural, more than most people realize and the benefits are amazing.

Babies are communicating to the best of their ability as soon as they are born. They develop at an incredible rate during the first three years just trying to get down the basics. A newborn infant cries when it needs something because it has no other choice. He cannot point to what he wants, say what he wants or move to what he wants.

Soon he will develop cries that are slightly different from one another, taking communication one step further. Parents learn to tell the “hungry” cry from the “tired” cry or the “hold me” cry.

Then he will start to coo and babble, trying to tell you about his world.

And then he will start pointing at objects and using the tone of his voice to get a point across. This phase lasts from around 4-6 months up until around two years. That is a long span of time to have limited communication when it is entirely possible to have wonderful conversations with your child that you can actually understand!

Baby Sign Language is much more natural than most parents realize. We all teach our babies to wave “Bye-bye”, shake their head “Yes” or “No.” We show them how to blow on their food when it’s “Hot” or gently pet our arm if we want them to be “Gentle.” These are all gestures used in Baby Sign Language. Expanding their vocabulary gives you and your child some great advantages.

By teaching them signs for things like “Eat”, “Drink”, “More” and “All Done” you eliminate many tantrums that come from a child being hungry and not having the tools to communicate what they need. Think about this: Your child wants some milk. A baby that doesn’t know signs will start by grunting and pointing in the direction of where she thinks it might be. Of course if you’re in the middle of the grocery store or the back yard you might think she’s pointing at something completely different. Then she will start getting more and more upset until she reaches a full blown tantrum… and we all know how much fun that can be in the middle of the grocery store. A baby that has been taught to sign will simply get your attention and make the sign for “Milk” which is basically waving “Bye-bye” sideways (like you are milking a cow.) The giggle they let out when you say back to them “You want your milk?” is adorable. They are ecstatic that they have been understood.

In my experience being able to tend to your babies needs without the frustration is reason enough to teach them Baby Sign Language, but there are many more incredible benefits.

Teaching Baby Sign Language promotes healthy social and emotional development. Being able to communicate gives your child the opportunity to explore more and share more allowing them to develop to their full potential.

Teaching Baby Sign Language helps babies learn to talk sooner. One of the most common concerns I hear as an instructor is “Will my baby learn to rely on signs and decide not to speak?” Scientific studies prove exactly the opposite. When a baby learns to crawl they realize that they can get from here to there and work on improving that skill into something that works even better. The same goes for signing. A baby realizes they can communicate and grasps the concept of communication at a much younger age. When you understand what your baby is saying you repeat it back allowing them to hear the words more often, helping them to learn to speak the word sooner.

Teaching Baby Sign Language creates a stronger bond. Your baby can tell you what they see or hear, what interests they have. This gives you a priceless window into the life of your child. You and your child can share their world together. Their needs are met faster and more accurately.

Using Baby Sign Language in a daycare setting is a great way to create a universal language between babies and caregivers. It can help comfort a child who is upset about Mommy leaving, helping to explain that Mommy will be back soon.

The benefits of Baby Sign Language don’t end when your child starts talking. Most children start dropping their signs as they start speaking more words, eventually leaving all their signs behind. But the benefits of what they’ve learned have just begun.

The more gestures a baby uses at 14 months the larger their vocabulary is at 4.5 years. A larger vocabulary is directly linked to a higher level of success later in life.

Babies who were taught to sign scored an average of 12 points higher on an IQ test at age eight than those who were not taught to sign!

Teaching Baby Sign Language can make potty training before the age of two possible and even easier than waiting until after age two!

We all want what’s best for our children. We want to give them the best chance to lead a happy and successful life. Teaching them Baby Sign Language is one of the best things you can do for your child.

Elizabeth Sprague
Baby Signs With ELizabeth
Independent Certified Instructor
Helping Babies Communicate
http://www.babysignsprogram.com/withelizabeth/
http://www.babysignswithelizabeth.blogspot.com

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Whats the easiest way to learn sign language?

I’m a single parent. I work and I take online classes. I want to learn and become fluent in sign language, but I am trying to figure out if it is best for me to get material from the library or take an actual class (which would be difficult with my schedule). Yet, if I learn ASL at home this may be something my daughter and I can do together.
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How to Find a Sign Language Interpreter

If your medical office just accepted its first deaf patient, or a deaf employee is required to attend your in-house training program, you need to find a sign language interpreter to make sure your business complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

If your office is located in a large city, you should be able to locate a certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting agency in your area.  Live interpreters can be pricey – around $60 to $80 per hour during normal business hours, and more during evenings and weekends.  Live in-person ASL interpreters normally require a 2-hour minimum and sometimes extra for travel time, mileage, and parking fees .

The VRI Alternative:

Technology is changing the way sign language interpreters do business.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) allows deaf and hearing individuals in the same location to communicate using a qualified ASL interpreter in a remote location.  VRI allows access to sign language interpreters when traditional in-person services may not be available or cost effective.  

Advantages of VRI over traditional in-person interpreting:

1. all interpreters are well-trained, certified, and experienced

2. available 24/7 without delays or two hour minimums

3. equipment is inexpensive, easy to use, and free of leasing fees

4. can attach equipment to any room TV or computer monitor

5. confidential, secure, and private communications via the Internet (encrypted)

VRI is compatible with most video and teleconferencing equipment on the market today, including:

– videophone and broadband connection

– computer, webcam, and broadband with our online video service

– traditional video conferencing equipment such as Tandberg and Polycom

For clients with frequent interpreter needs, I recommend an all-in-one unit such as the Tandberg 150 MXP for ease of use and crystal clear audio and video transmission.

Clients with occasional assignments can utilize a PC and webcam to connect directly to VRI agencies such as Accessible Communication for the Deaf (ACD).  Once a client enters contact and billing information, and sets up a free SightSpeed account, they could have an interpreter assisting their patient, customer, or employee in as little as 10 minutes.

While some situations require an in-person interpreter, improved technology and faster Internet connections make VRI the preferred solution for many interpreting needs:

* legal – courtroom, arraignments, police interviews, probation, prison, depositions

* medical – routine medical appointments, medicine checks, hospital discharge

* education – college and K-12 classrooms

* business – job interviews, staff meetings, safety training

* government – public meetings and forums, social services, employee meetings

Finding a qualified sign language interpreter has never been easier.  With VRI, you can forget about:

-two hour minimum charges
-delays and scheduling problems
-travel expenses
-mileage
-parking expenses
-cancellation fees

Pay only for the interpreting services you actually use.  Assignments can be scheduled in advance or immediately in emergency situations.

How to request VRI services and find a sign language interpreter:

1. set up a free account with billing information, credit card, and interpreting preferences

2. check video and audio compatibility

3. schedule an appointment for interpreting or request an immediate interpreter

4. begin your clear VRI interpreting session

For more information about VRI to accommodate your deaf or hard-of-hearing clients, patients, customers, or students, visit Accessible Communication for the Deaf or contact Charles Lamm via email at charles@acdterps.com.

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Autism Sign Language – Using Sign Language With an Autistic Child

Autism Sign Language

In recent times a expanding interest has been make it out to teaching sign blabber to autistic children who own failed to develop speech. Sign language is a gobbledygook which relies on movements of hands, arms or body and facial expressions in order to communicate. Autism Sign Language

This is commonly exhausted by deaf people or hard of hearing people. But it is also becoming popularly exhausted by other sectors, especially hearing non verbal children who suffer from diminished syndrome, trauma, autism, cerebral palsy, brain disorders and speech disorders.

More and more parents now rely on sign language as a mode of quick communication particularly among their children who have with very brief thought spans or limited language capabilities. Autism is a brain development disorder which results in damage to social skills, language and behavior. This disorder causes restricted and repetitive behavior which can be identified during infancy or childhood years. Autism affects many parts of the brain and parents are able to notice signs in the first few years of their child’s life.

One of the main questions arising with regard to an autistic child would be whether he/she is ever able to develop speech. According to recent research it is conveyed that with appropriate interventions there is a possibility that children with autism can learn to talk. There are several ways to help autistic children to talk. And the most popular way is to teach speech through the utilization of sign language. Autism Sign Language

Researchers suggest that the use of sign language increases the chances of autistic children learning the spoken language. In addition it also provides children with an alternative mode of communication. It is easy for parents or caregivers to learn sign language and utilize it while interacting with an autistic child. Also it is found that autistic children are able to learn signing successfully.

Some reasons for this are that signs can be physically guided unlike speech, signs can be frozen in time in order for the child to process it, sign language is more iconic than speech, individual signs can be easily grasped and it is believed that signing is processed in the right hemisphere of the brain. Since research has shown there may be differential disturbance of left hemisphere brain functions in autistic children this might be another reason why signing is easier for them to learn.

Teaching sign language to the child would provide him/her with a way of expressing his/her needs in a manner which is more socially accepted and easily understood. Due to this the child would experience less frustration. Also an increase in social awareness and decrease in tantrums due to frustration will follow with the ability to communicate. Autism Sign Language

Another more crucial advantage in teaching sign language is that it would lessen some of the learning problems that autistic children face. It is believed that through acquiring sign language early on, the child is able to build up cognitive structures which are the basis for later learning. Don’t let your child suffer anymore! Lead your child out of his world through Autism Sign Language program now!

Autism Sign Language is a proven Autism Solution for your Child.

Try The Program and change child’s life forever!

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Pippin Los Angeles Tickets – An Incredible Production Incorporates American Sign Language

Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics written by Stephen Schwartz at the start of the ’70s, which first opened at the Imperial Theatre in New York, where it ran for 1944 performances. The musical is a fanciful story about the oldest son of King Charlemagne, and his path to maturity. The musical opens with the song “Magic to Do,” and “magic” is just what has been done for the latest rendition of the musical that is currently playing at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, California.

In this new production music, dance and American Sign Language are all incorporated to produce one of the most fabulous shows around. The musical features deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors and actresses performing one of the most exciting theatrical events of the year. The unusual integration of Sign Language into the musical has made it a must-see production. The musical has already begun wowing audiences since it first opened on January 15, and it continues to be a magical production that theatre enthusiasts are flocking to from all over.

Pippin introduces the main character with a song about how he is searching for where he belongs, and he seems to find it hard to know where to go. The character is introduced with the song “Corner of the Sky,” which begins with the lines –
”Everything has its season
Everything has its time
Show me a reason and I’ll soon show you a rhyme
Cats fit on the windowsill
Children fit in the snow
Why do I feel I don’t fit in anywhere I go?”

These lines set the stage for the rest of the musical, which centers on the theme of personal discovery. The main character, Pippin, starts by setting out to understand where he belongs, and finds the road very difficult.

At first he begins by trying his hand at war, aspiring to be a soldier he joins in with the song “War is a Science,” only to come in awkwardly with the punch-line before his father, Charlemagne, has finished telling his soldiers about his battle plan. The soldiers salute the king singing the song “Glory,” but Pippin has already realized that he does not want to become a war hero when the Leading Player sings “Simple Joys.” This song clearly tells the story of Pippin’s life, beginning –
”Well I’ll sing you the story of a sorrowful lad
Had everything he wanted, didn’t want what he had
He had wealth and health and fame and name and all of
That noise
But he didn’t have none of those simple joys
His life seemed purposeless and flat
Aren’t you glad you don’t feel like that?”

Pippin goes on to try to find his place in the world, he tries living the good life on the advice of his grandmother. Seeking out women, he symbolically experiments with sex and tries to discover if the meaning of life can be found through them.

Throughout the musical Pippin continues to try and find what his place is in life, and eventually discovers that it is right under his nose all along. This version of the musical: told in song, dance, and Sign Language, is an incredible rendition that will leave your heart pounding. You are certain to enjoy Pippin Los Angeles tickets. Tickets are selling out fast, so to get tickets to the show you want go to http://www.stubhub.com/pippin-los-angeles-tickets.

This article was written by Phoebe Wickliffe and sponsored by StubHub. StubHub sells Pippin Los Angeles tickets as well as many other kinds of theatrical performances, concert tickets, sports tickets, and special events.

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