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TEACHING SIGNLANGUAGE

TO YOUR CHILDREN

By: Kayla Shoaf

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Orientation Signing is a way for your children to communicate

for his/her needs and to reduce any frustration in doing so. There are many things to know when preparing to teach your child sign language, so pay attention. There will be application questions throughout the lesson and a quiz at the end.

Why should you want to sign to your child?

Sign language helps young children learn impulse control.

Signing helps children express emotions. Signing language keeps the attention of children. To praise young children who do not quite

understand speech. Promote communication before a child is able to

speak. Reduce the frustration of communication between

you and your child. Development of larger vocabulary for your child. Experiencing a close bond with your child.

Motivational video

Feel free to watch all or just part of the video clip

Where would you like to begin?

How to Teach Signing

What are the Benefits

When to begin signing

Signing and Special Needs

The starter signs

Click on the box of your choice

Read through the information on how to teach sign language to your child

Take note of the specific steps/strategies in teaching signing

How to Teach Sign Language to Your Child

Begin with simple words

Have your child’s complete attention when performing the signs

Start with only a few signs at a time

Try to use the sign every chance you get with the child

Add words slowly at your child’s own pace

Use signing resources online and in books, such as dictionaries, tutorial videos, and suggestions

How to Teach Sign Language

to Your Child

Use objects to connect the sign with what it is representing

Repetition is the key to success in sign language for children

Have patience with you child and the learning process

Pay close attention to your child’s hand movements for attempts at signing back to you

How to Teach Sign Language to Your Child

Application Make a journal for yourself to

observe your child for a week. Take note of objects your child comes

in contact with on a daily basis. Note how attentive your child is and

what pace he/she plays or interacts. Look up sources online or in the

library to find the specific signs for the objects your child sees on a daily basis.

Read through the benefits signing provides for yourself and your child

Think of your child as your read and how the benefits would reflect on your family life with your child

The Benefits of Signing

There are many benefits to signing

Teaches babies and young children to express themselves before they are able to speak

Bonding between parent and child- you have the opportunity to see how your child thinks

Reduced fussiness from the child-your child will be able to communicate his/her need

Increased mental development in child

Increased later vocabulary in the child

The Benefits of Signing

Mastery of complex muscle actions

Development of language skills earlier in life

Teaches your child a second language

Increases early literacy skills

May increase child’s IQ level

Increases child’s self satisfaction and accomplishment

The Benefits of Signing

Teaching sign language to a child can begin as early as 6 months of age

Parents should be able to make and maintain consistent eye contact for about 7 seconds-usually between 6-9 months

It is never too late-can still work with children from 9-36 months just as effectively

When to begin Signing

Who benefits

What are the benefits

Click on your choice to begin

Signing and Special Needs

Who benefits from Sign Language and Special Needs Apraxia

Autism Cerebral Palsy Communication Impairment Down syndrome Deafness/ hearing impairment Mental impairment

What are the Benefits of Sign Language and Special Needs Children have the ability to use

expressive speech Reduces frustration Breaks communication barriers Enhances self esteem Jumpstarts various areas of brain Intellectual development

The Starter Signs in teaching Sign Language to children 1. Look through the various signs

taught first to children

2. Read how to perform the signs

3. Practice the signs on your own until you feel comfortable in signing

How to Sign Milk:The milk sign is a lot like milking a cow (or goat), but without

the vertical motion – you are just squeezing the udder. You take both hands, make them into a fist, relax, and repeat.

How to sign Daddy:To sign daddy, extend and spread out your five fingers on your strong hand. Tap your hand on your forehead.

Usage: Whenever you see daddy, you can wait till he catches your baby’s attention then say, daddy and do the sign. Daddy can also introduce himself to the baby when he enters the room. “Hi baby, daddy is back.”

How to sign Mommy:To sign mommy extend and spread your fingers apart. With

your pinkie facing forward tap your thumb on your chin.

Usage: Mommy is a great starter sign and will likely be one of the first that your baby learns. Make the sign every time you approach your baby. If your baby is fussing and calling for you, make the mommy sign and give her a cheery smile, saying “it’s mommy.”

HOW TO SIGN MORE:To do the sign for more, flatten out your hands then bring your thumbs under to make an O shape. Then, bring your hands together and separate them repeatedly.

Usage: More is one of the most popular signs with babies because it gives them a lot more control over their life. We start using more when eating or drinking to communicate when they have not quite had enough of something. So when I giving your baby her bottle and she stops half way. Ask her, “Do you want more?” (while at the same time doing the more sign). Then give her back the bottle.

How to sign Eat:Bring hand to mouth with fingertips touching thumb and tap the lips to illustrate placing food in the mouth

How to sign Diaper:Sign diaper by taking your hands and placing them down around your waist. Take your index fingers and middle finger together from each hand and tap them on your thumbs. It is like you are playing mini castanets at waist height. Lots of people will do the sign a bit higher up on the body if necessary for baby to see it properly.

Usage: Diaper is one of those incredibly useful signs that really improves life for both baby and mommy. Diaper is one of the first signs we teach a baby, and we use it to indicate when we are about to change the baby’s diaper. Eventually the baby learns that by signing diaper, she can get a dirty diaper changed. Being able to communicate this need helps avoid a lot of frustration and crying. As your child gets more advanced, you can also use diaper as part of a question. “Do we need to change your diaper?”

How to sign Happy:To sign happy, take your extended hand and brush it in little circles up your chest a couple of times.

Usage: Teach your baby the sign for happy by making the sign whenever your baby is visibly happy or excited. Remember, when making the sign for happy, it is important to emote happiness.

HOW TO SIGN ALL DONE:For all-done we usually do the ASL sign for finished because it is a little simpler. You start with palms facing in, then turn the hands so that they are facing out.

Usage: All done (or finished) is a great introductory sign. You can use it at the end of every meal, and they allow your baby to signal when they are done with their food instead of getting fussy sitting in front of their plate. “Are you all-done?”

How to sign Book:To sign book, put your hands together, palm-to-palm. Then holding your pinkies together, open up your hands as if opening up a book.

Usage: The book sign is a great way to introduce reading time. This is a great fun sign, because babies love story time and learning the sign is a great motivator to learn the book sign.

How to sign to go to bed:Put your two hands together, palm-to-palm. Then place your hands on an angle by the side of your head, and rest your head on your hands as if they were a pillow.

Usage: Bed is a really useful sign that baby can use to let you know when she is ready to go to sleep. Make the sign for bed as part of your night time ritual to prepare to go to sleep. “Time for bed, sweetheart.”

Evaluation-Quiz Choose the that goes with your answer

Practice your signing as you proceed through the quiz

There will be questions covering the information provided as well

Click on the to return to the question after you have reviewed the information for the question

To review before proceeding to quiz click on the home page

1. How do you sign Mommy?

CORRECT!

is the sign for mommy.

Make sure you are practicing as you go

INCORRECT

Review the sign and try again

To sign mommy extend and spread your fingers apart. With your pinkie facing forward tap your thumb on your chin.

ReviewHow to sign

Mommy:

2. How do you sign book?

CORRECT!

is the sign for book

INCORRECT

Review the sign and try again

To sign book, put your hands together, palm-to-palm. Then holding your pinkies together, open up your hands as if opening up a book.

Review

How to sign Book:

3. When should you begin to teach your child signing?

2-3 months

4-6 months

6-9 months

CORRECT!

6-9 months is a great time to begin signing to your child

INCORRECT

Review the information and try again

Teaching sign language to a child can begin as early as 6 months of age

Parents should be able to make and maintain consistent eye contact for about 7 seconds-usually between 6-9 months

It is never too late-can still work with children from 9-36 months just as effectively

ReviewWhen to begin Signing

4. What is the sign for Diaper?

CORRECT!

Is the correct sign for diaper

INCORRECT

Please review the sign for diaper and try the question again

Sign diaper by taking your hands and placing them down around your waist. Take your index fingers and middle finger together from each hand and tap them on your thumbs. It is like you are playing mini castanets at waist height. Lots of people will do the sign a bit higher up on the body if necessary for baby to see it properly.

ReviewHow to sign Diaper:

5. How do you sign Daddy?

CORRECT!

Is the correct sign for Daddy

INCORRECT

Sorry Please review the sign for Daddy and return to the question

To sign daddy, extend and spread out your five fingers on your strong hand. Tap your hand on your forehead.

Review How to sign Daddy:

6. What are two things to remember when signing with your child?

begin with complex words while child is distracted half the time

begin with simple words with child’s complete attention

start with a variety of words once a day

CORRECT! When teaching a child sign language

you should begin with simple words with child’s complete attention

INCORRECT

Sorry please review the information and return to the question

Begin with simple words

Have your child’s complete attention when performing the signs

Start with only a few signs at a time

Try to use the sign every chance you get with the child

Add words slowly at your child’s own pace

Use signing resources online and in books, such as dictionaries, tutorial videos, and suggestions

How to Teach Sign Language

to Your Child

Review

7. What is the Key to Success

fast pace

patience

slow pace

repetition

CORRECT! Repetition is the key to success!

INCORRECT

Please review the information and try the question again.

Use objects to connect the sign with what it is representing

Repetition is the key to success in sign language for children

Have patience with you child and the learning process

Pay close attention to your child’s hand movements for attempts at signing back to you

How to Teach Sign Language to

Your Child

Review

8. How do you sign for More?

CORRECT!

Is the correct sign for More

INCORRECT

Review the sign for More and try again

To do the sign for more, flatten out your hands then bring your thumbs under to make an O shape. Then, bring your hands together and separate them repeatedly.

ReviewHOW TO SIGN MORE:

9. What is the sign for Happy?

CORRECT!

Is the correct sign for Happy

INCORRECT

Review the sign for Happy and return to the question to try again

To sign happy, take your extended hand and brush it in little circles up your chest a couple of times.

How to sign Happy:Review

10. How do you sign for Eat?

CORRECT!

Is the correct sign for Eat.

INCORRECT

Review the sign for Eat and and try the question again

Bring hand to mouth with fingertips touching thumb and tap the lips to illustrate placing food in the mouth

ReviewHow to sign Eat:

11.What is the sign for go to bed?

CORRECT!

Is the correct sign for to go to bed

INCORRECT

Review the sign for go to bed and try again

Put your two hands together, palm-to-palm. Then place your hands on an angle by the side of your head, and rest your head on your hands as if they were a pillow.

ReviewHow to sign to go to bed:

12. What is the sign for Milk?

Is the correct sign for milk

CORRECT!!

INCORRECT

Review the sign and try the question again

The milk sign is a lot like milking a cow (or goat), but without the vertical motion – you are just squeezing the udder. You take both hands, make them into a fist, relax, and repeat.

ReviewHow to Sign

Milk:

13. How do you sign for All Done?

CORRECT!

Is the correct sign for All Done or Finished

INCORRECT

Review the sign for All Done and retry.

For all-done we usually do the ASL sign for finished because it is a little simpler. You start with palms facing in, then turn the hands so that they are facing out.

ReviewHOW TO SIGN ALL DONE:

You have finished the lesson and quiz! How did you do?

And....

What have you learned?....

What you should take from this lesson.... Sign language is not only beneficial for all

children but also parents It is never too late to begin signing with

your child Once you begin signing be persistent Start with the basics and make it fun for

the child Sign language reduces frustration of

children, increases language development and provides a communication system between parents and young children unable to communicate their wants or needs.