Pure Parents

Question:

I just received my Spring issue of "Mothering" with an article on this very subject. Joseph Garcia has a book called  "Toddler Talk" available from Stratton Kehl Publications, P.O. Box 28567, Bellingham,WA 98228 or 800-566-6656. What a great idea!  I can’t wait to start with my one yo! P.S.  "Mothering" is a great magazine on alternative parenting.  The number for subscriptions is 800-984-8116. Good Luck, Marcy

Response:

I learned a few signs from my nephew who was in special ed.   Even though he didn’t have any verbal communication problems, all the kids learned signing so the the non-verbal kids wouldn’t be left out.  I loved seeing all the kids sign for something – particularly food – instead of screaming in unison like I’ve seen in some classes.  My nephew’s teacher said kids can learn signs at 4 mths but aren’t verbal for many more months – so it does relieve frustration. We taught our infant son some signs and now his daycare is teaching all the kids.  It cuts down on frustration and noise.  I love it. Be prepared for strange comments in public though.  I had more than one person come up and ask me if my son was retarded.  I’m not sure why a perception between signing and retardation exists but the comments didn’t bother me. Good signs to teach – "more", "drink", "eat", "milk" "love", "I love you", "please" & "thank you" —

Response:

: >I’m looking for how-to information on infant sign language.  I heard : >about research in this area on NPR’s All Things Considered radio : >program a couple months ago but have been unable to find any : >additional information.  The basic idea is that the parent teaches the : >infant a simple set of signs so that the infant can tell the parent : >when she is thirsty, hungry, scared, or sitting in a soiled diaper. : >In addition to making infant care more efficient, the child gets a : >head start on developing language skills.  For example, an infant can : >be trained to communicate hippopotamus using a sign before he can say : >the word.  TIA. : >– : >Bruce F. Wong                      Distributed Systems International, Inc. : >Tel:708-665-4639 Fax:708-665-4706  Wheaton, IL 60187-5057 USA In the new issue of Mothering magazine (the *one* mag no parent should be without!), there is an article on infant/toddler sign language.  I’m at work right now, so I don’t have the info in front of me.  But, from what I remember it is a modified version of American Sign Language and it can be taught to children as young as 8 months.  The author of the article used it with his kids and found that they had fewer temper tantrums than their peers (presumably because they could communicate their wishes/feelings–this is one of the causes of temper tantrums, it is believed).  I’ll bring the article to work on Monday and post the addresses/books/resources that are listed in the article.  It sounds like a great system–too bad my 2 1/2 yr. old is already talking or I would use it with her! Andrea

Response:

>> >Greetings, > >I’m looking for how-to information on infant sign language.  I heard >There are some very simple signs that are even taught to VERY low-functioning >special needs people.  They’re easy to learn and believe me, the important signs >you *never* forget!!    The bathroom is the shake of the right fist in >the air, to

(you forgot to mention that it’s usually a "t" fist (as in "toilet"). Make a fist….but put your thumb between your middle and forefinger…then move it back and forth quickly (much like shaking it). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Marcia

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Greetings, >I’m looking for how-to information on infant sign language.  I heard >about research in this area on NPR’s All Things Considered radio >program a couple months ago but have been unable to find any >additional information.  The basic idea is that the parent teaches the >infant a simple set of signs so that the infant can tell the parent >when she is thirsty, hungry, scared, or sitting in a soiled diaper. >In addition to making infant care more efficient, the child gets a >head start on developing language skills.  For example, an infant can >be trained to communicate hippopotamus using a sign before he can say >the word.  TIA. >– >Bruce F. Wong                      Distributed Systems International, Inc. >Tel:708-665-4639 Fax:708-665-4706  Wheaton, IL 60187-5057 USA

There are some very simple signs that are even taught to VERY low-functioning special needs people.  They’re easy to learn and believe me, the important signs you *never* forget!!    The bathroom is the shake of the right fist in the air, to eat is to tap the lips, to drink is to drag a finger down the throat, and fright is (usually) arms crossed and sometimes shaking over the chest area.  This last one seems to be the most difficult to learn for a child, and eating is the easiest to teach.  I don’t have children yet (Oct) but have worked for years with kids, deaf kids, handicapped kids, and I’m half-deaf myself, so I’m speaking form a little experience.  I hope it helps!? Marcia

Response:

I have read about this too, and it is NOT in any way related to American Sign Language which is used by the deaf.  It is simply teaching basic gestures to pre-verbal kids to get their needs met, in the same tradition as teaching babies to wave bye-bye.  We did this with our now 18 month old before ever even hearing about it.  I think a lot of parents do this instinctively, but I’d be interested in learning about more specifics. Our daugher learned to tap on her diaper when it was wet at about 9 months, move her mouth open and shut to say she wanted something to eat, flap her hand to say "bird" and fingers to say "butterfly" rub her arm to say "nice" or "love"…things like that.  It is NOT pushing them in any way, it is just a way to allow then to communicate before they have the skills to do so on our level. Karen

Response:

I am not so sure about this Tia.  Call me old fashion, but pushing kids this young would seem to me like taking the fun out of childhood.  But to  give you a  idea, you might try   contacting your state school for the deaf.

Response:

Yes, it is possible to teach infants sign language.   (and I’m talking about deaf or hearing children) There are several books on the topic.  The one I own is titled "Toddler Talk, The first signs of intelligent life" by Joseph Garcia. The basic premise is that babies can sign before they are physically able to speak clearly.  Toddler Talk, and I assume other similar books, introduce a very basic subset of signs  (I think using American Sign Language).   The first signs my son learned were "more" "dog" and "moon".   Other basic signs we use alot are: stop, hurt, eat, water, juice, cat, no, yes, good, hot, cold, warm, mommy, daddy, rain, etc.   I finally went out and got a big fat sign language dictionary, and we learn 2 to 3 new signs a week.  (There are no deaf persons in our family, we’re just having fun) I began using signs with him when he was around 16 to 18 months, which was a good time because toddlers are very into mimicing.  I had friends that started usings signs at a much earlier age.  I would agree that it does help language development if only that it encorporates tactle learning in to the process of learning language. It also helps to remove a bunch of frustration at that toddler stage because with signs they suddenly CAN communicate.   My son was usually able to use a sign correctly two to three months before he could pronounce the word.  EAT, MORE, and NO are especially powerful for them.   Its very easy to encorporate into everyday life.  Lets say that you want to teach the sign for "more".  Everytime you say the word "more" you also sign "more".  Pretty soon, your tot will begin to sign it too.   My tot got so that he would sit in his carseat and sign "eat" when he was hungry.  Eventually, I would glance in the mirror and see him signing (he sits in the back seat), and would reach back and hand him a cracker.  MUCH more effective than crying. Just as tots mispronounce words, it frequently takes a while for them to master some signs.   The sign for "pain, or hurt" (which you teach them so they can tell you where it hurts) involves touching the tips of the index fingers together.  My son (21 months) still won’t make the sign, but he recognizes it and can answer yes or no to "does it hurt."    Another sign my son recognizes but has just started to sign is the sign for "stop"  which I use frequently in parks (very handy). Didn’t mean for this to get so long, hope its helpful.  I don’t usually read this news group so if necessary please email me directly.

Response:

Greetings, I’m looking for how-to information on infant sign language.  I heard about research in this area on NPR’s All Things Considered radio program a couple months ago but have been unable to find any additional information.  The basic idea is that the parent teaches the infant a simple set of signs so that the infant can tell the parent when she is thirsty, hungry, scared, or sitting in a soiled diaper. In addition to making infant care more efficient, the child gets a head start on developing language skills.  For example, an infant can be trained to communicate hippopotamus using a sign before he can say the word.  TIA. — Bruce F. Wong                      Distributed Systems International, Inc. Tel:708-665-4639 Fax:708-665-4706  Wheaton, IL 60187-5057 USA

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