My Smart Hands App Giveaway extended!

Since I went MIA (read "SURPRISE" blog post) on everyone during the last few days of the giveaway, I saved one of the codes for the free app for an extension!

Here's the original review (click here)

To Enter: comment below (that's it!) by the end of Monday 4th.

Good luck!

App Review & Giveaway: My Smart Hands Baby Sign Dictionary

I recently reviewed another Sign Language app ...

My Smart Hands Baby Sign Dictionary

This app was well organized into categories as well as alphabetized (and of course there's a 'search' feature so you do not have to scroll through the entire list). 

Other Features:

My Favorites List: The 'Favorites' list allows you to keep a list you'd like to focus on or have easy access to for a later date. It's good for those signs you can never remember!

Signs: To learn a sign, you simply click on the word you would like to learn, and a new screen pops up with Laura signing it. First without talking, followed immediately with the verbal instruction of how to produce the sign. This is the nice feature to walk you through any necessary steps to help you produce the sign.

Categories: There are over 15 categories (e.g. actions, animals, feelings, numbers, & foods) that allow you to learn categorically if that's what you are aiming for (e.g. 5 food items).

Quizes: The feature I loved the most was the quiz feature. The quizzes could be used for young children and others learning sign language. It lets you customize how many questions you want in your quiz and how many choices per question you see. It also gives you the great feature of using your 'favorites' list we talked about above.

                                               

You can also watch Laura sign the question again if need be. It provides you the results of how many you got right as well. 

Laura Berg, the owner, understands and believes in the idea of using actual American Sign Language -- though it's confusing to know with the title perhaps of 'Baby Sign Dictionary'. But I think the thought process is simply saying the signs in this dictionary are more geared to young learners. 

Years ago she enjoyed teaching her own children sign language when their were very little and now gets to share that joy with others. She was excited to build the great curriculum found in her My Smart Hands programs utilizing ASL. But we'll share that for another day. For more information about Laura and her awesome program, check her out at My Smart Hands.

She has other great apps as well such as ...

Sound like something you may be interested in? Of course! So ... I've partnered up with Laura for a great giveaway for you guys (for the iPhone app version). I am giving away THREE copies of the Baby Sign Dictionary! Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Need a resource?
American Sign Language Dictionary-Flexi (3rd Edition, Revised)

"ASL Baby Sign" iPad App review & giveaway

Sign Language App Review & Giveway!

"ASL Baby Sign"

I had the opportunity of reviewing a great app!

"ASL Baby Sign" application on the iPad is definitely under estimated by being called “ASL Baby Sign.” This app clearly has the capabilities of helping educators, parents, and other individuals desiring to learn sign language. "ASL Baby Sign" has awesome features unexpected in an ASL app – especially named “ASL Baby Sign.”

What I expected:

• Simple basic signs that can be taught to an infant, toddler, and young child.
• Basic flashcards child-friendly.

What I saw:

• An experienced interpreter signing 170+ signs
• Cute cartoons used
• The word presented with the sign and audio

What I didn’t expected:

• The awesome feature to edit the words on the screen (not that you want to edit them too much – I found the signs quite reliable but perhaps you wanted to put a capital letter versus a lower case or make it say “D for dog”).
• The ability to record your own voice so the person using the app hears that familiarity.
•  The ability to add pictures to the photo gallery for potentially better recognition of the sign (how cool!)
•  All this hard work you put into it can of course be saved (bonus) for future uses.
• The low price of $1.99

-       

I was highly impressed. My expectations clearly were not in the same mind set as this app. I was expecting something strictly young child friendly and that’s it but I guess the therapist and educator in me saw this app having so much more potential than it’s title leads it to believe.

So with that being said, its negative:

•    The title!

Why?

It clearly doesn’t portray all the great things this ASL app can do with a title like “ASL Baby Sign.” So many of the apps geared towards babies and sign language are so basic. This was not! 

I highly recommend this app for parents and educators. If you didn't previously check out our ASL Dictionary app review (from the same company, AppSavers), click here!

Here you go! Good luck to the FIVE lucky winners of this great ASL Baby Sign app redemption code!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ASLdictionary

sign: MONKEY! Product Review Label & Learn Basic Signs Magnets!

Who doesn't have the Leap Frog magnets that you put on your frig?!










These magnets were introduced to Ms. Little Fingers two weeks ago. 

I thought she might be too young (just 15 months) but she loves them! Granted, I do not believe she is going to learn the signs herself looking at the magnets but I do believe like her other toys, when played together she will absorb the concepts and for that - I'm happy! I show her how to make the sign she's pointing to and she attends.

There you have it! We worked on joint attention and joint referencing skills. She points (references) and looks at me - I tell her what it is she's looking at!


I also attach the signs with the ABCs with my Early Intervention clients using the Leap Frog ABC magnet. They have a great set of the ABC magnets as well which is fun. Lil's definitely too young for those (15 months) but they are definitely coming next. 


A run-down about the Label & Learn Basic Signs Magnets

Pros:

• priced right (see for yourself here!)
• uses true American Sign Language
• the monkey gains the interest of the child
• sturdy (she picked up one of these magnets and tried to crush it and it didn't happen. She picked up a pizza store magnet and crushed it in half immediately).
• multi-purposeful (I use them in therapy too off of the refrigerator)

Cons:

• the size of the magnet (perhaps they could be a touch bigger)
• color might be nice

Tell me, what do you think? Think outside of the box - how can you use these magnets? Perhaps you can use dry erase markers and color in the monkey signing different signs so now you're working on following directions too! The possibilities are endless!

compliments Sign2Me (r)

sign: SMART. Product review: Signing Smart. Great ASL product for babies

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on Signing SMART's sign language products a couple months ago. ... and well, it was a hit! 

Little Fingers signed TWO signs immediately (literally - during the movie)! One she already signed before (BABY) but the other she didn't! 

Dr. Michelle Anthony and Dr. Reyna Linder created Signing SMART when they became new parents and quickly learned there were not many resources available for the true hectic lifestyles of parents to teach their children enriched language skills.  Dr. Anthony and Dr. Linder went to school together and got their PhDs in Developmental Psychology.


They both believe in my same philosophies of using ASL to teach sign language versus baby signs or home made signs. It's just so important to understand the importance of a philosophy I once heard in Dr. Garcia's book, Sign With Your Baby "It Takes A Language To Learn Another" - I can't stress that enough (and that's just one of the many reasons who to use ASL - we'll talk about that more later).

The use of the puppet-like bear with the very animated music and upbeat rhythms Lil was immediately interested. She signed BABY immediately and then signed PLAY. She was immediately drawn to the movie, which she isn't for many shows. She typically doesn't care about the TV (unless it's Signing Time, Fresh Beat Band and now this!).


We're happy to have stumbled upon Signing SMART. So happy that we decided to stock their DVDs and you can find their DVDs in our online store now!

Sign: SMART! 

(2 parter)

 


Sign: SMART - first you put your middle finger on your forehead and then twist it out (so your palm is facing your communication partner).

sign: 9. Southern SAHM follow up on her product review

Check out Caitlin's thoughts a couple weeks after introducing Baby Signing Time Volume 4 to her son. (Click here). 


A few weeks ago she did a review (here) being a new-comer to sign language. Her son took right to the DVD and enjoyed it immediately! 

Now - he has NINE signs! NINE! 


He is a true testament that sign language is not only fun and entertaining, but it sticks! And he is increasing his expressive language vocabulary using sign language. Kuddos Southern SAHM! I'm so glad he likes the DVD and learned some great signs!

What does your child think of Baby Signing Time?

sign PURSE. Thirty-One product review

Product Review!

Today I have a great product review of my awesome Thirty-One bags! I was just recently introduced to Thirty-One - right around the time I started this site. I bought two utility bags, one small, one large. And look (below)! These bags have well paid for themselves. 


My small one is used for Little Finger's diaper supplies on her dresser next to her changing pad. This is great because now she can't have as easy access to all those supplies and I'm less likely to be picking them up off the floor. No more signing NO on the changing pad! .. well at least in reference to her trying to get all of her lotions and creams.


My large utility bag was a no brainer! I immediately filled it with all my therapy tools and toys for my daily travels with early intervention. My husband always asks me to clean my car and now I did!

Then Nikki from Peace, Love, and Purses reached out to me. Now I'm hooked! I have my HearMyHands utility bag I use in classes! The awesome side pockets I use for food, water bottles, and props for class. It's very sturdy, but yet very stylish. I can't wait for my next bag!


I was so excited about these new products that I wanted to have an online party to share my excitement with you. And luck be hold - there's a great deal this month! Buy $31, get 31% off of another product (any product!). Nikki's great to work with and answers my emails quickly. I was very unfamiliar with Thirty-One and she helped me understand their customization abilities and styles.


Check out this link to enjoy the party!

See her diaper caddy - works well!

sign: PURSE / HAND BAG

Don't forget to check out the link! I love to be organized, less cleaning means more time to spend with Lil!

sign ENJOY! Product Review: Label & Learn Basic Signs App

Label & Learn just came out with their own ABCs Basic sign ASL app a few weeks ago. It's cute app with their mascot, Charlie Chimp. This app was created by Katey Blehm, M.A., CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and mother of two little signers!



The app provides:

• flashcards
• quiz for reinforce the signs learned
• positive reinforcement

It's this reviewer's opinion that the app isn't for the young toddler ages because they may not be developmentally ready to retain the ABCs and their fine motor is not fine tuned enough typically for fingerspelling (meaning sign the alphabet). But older toddlers and children will surely enjoy it!


This app is a cute quick glimpse of what Label and Learn has to offer. They are in the mix of creating another app more appropriate for everyone to learn and enjoy.  Their new app will be animated - how cool!


They have some great products we're proud to promote and have sold over the past few years. They created some awesome labels to help reinforce signs through a child's day at home and school. They also have cute bibs, shirts and handy placemats! Check out our online store!

Go Check out Charlie Chimp Signing App in iTunes now!

Product Review: Fun with Abby & Alyssa books

We have a great review to announce!

Check out the new Fun With Abby and Alyssa book series written by Grandpa Don. 

Grandpa Don decided to write these series of books when he longed to find a way to communicate with his two granddaughters, Abby and Alyssa. Abby is 3 years old and is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Alyssa is 7 years old and has global developmental delays. Both girls are hearing but Grandpa Don saw the value of sign language to provide them with an enriched language experience. 

Grandpa Don geared his books toward early communicators and readers. He created 6 books, each with their own theme (e.g. zoo, home, school, etc.). Each sign is described and illustrated by Alyssa or Abby in the book. 



What I love:

• the child focus (so many signing books are focused on infants right now that it's refreshing to see something for the next age group)
• the text and pictorial description of how to sign each sign
• the "What" questions allows for great processing skills development and language expansion. Moreover, if the child reading the book has a language processing delay or impairment, she or he will still be able to answer the question because of the visual prompt (the answer right there on the bottom of the page -- see the picture for the example - the question is asked and the picture of the lion is presented to assist in answering the question.  Now I know others may not think that much into it but being a speech therapist I truly appreciate it.

What I wondered about ...

• When I read it to my daughter, I confirmed my thought it's not for young toddlers (which is fine because it's target audience is explicitly described on their site). But when I was reading it I found myself saying "Abby said ..." or "Alyssa said .." and pointing to the girls on the page because it's not there in the text. But Grandpa Don does have the quote bubbles coming out so it's obvious to me who's talking (but not to my young daughter). It's very minor, I know, but it's just my comment. It actually allows for joint referencing and good conversation building for the target audience children- which is actually a great thing!
• I wondered about other possible future medias or the next steps for Abby and Alyssa. Grandpa Don confirmed, via email, that there are future prospects for other media and future steps for Abby and Alyssa series. (That made me happy!)

Fun With Abby and Alyssa website is nicely laid out and provides free ABC and number downloads. Check out their site!

http://funwithabbyandalyssa.com/index.html

These books are a great tool for young readers. The descriptive lay out of the signs allow for educational signing growth for both mommy and daddy and the child reading it!

Go check out Grandpa Don's site and his great book! A+ from HearMyHands. 

Signing Books! First Product Review & It's Free!

I'm very excited to share Signing Books "Dear Zoo"! This website  has the great idea of having the illustrated story with signing, speaking, and most of the times the original words from the book. Each story is slightly different; some more interactive and illustrated than others. SigningStories has a variety of books for different age groups. You can fast forward or rewind the story. The con that I saw was I got excited when I saw 'buy this' thinking maybe I could buy some permanent download for my computer to have this read signing book on my computer (like a digital format if you will) but it's just a link to the actual book (no signing).


I understand this isn't anything to buy (which actually makes it better right?!) but it's definitely a must have!