sign: MEET for Meet Sandy and & her story (Signing and Down Syndrome)

Today we have a guest post from Sandy, a mother of a young beautiful girl with down syndrome. She has some great words to share about her experiences with Adeline and sign language. 

Before Adeline was born I had no experience with sign language or down syndrome, so when her Early Interventionist recommended to learn sign language I was surprised.  She recommended that we start with the Baby Signing Time DVDs and she gave us one.  We played it for Adeline and she loved it,  seeing the babies and hearing the music was very simulating.  

During the first year we were a bit inconsistent in teaching Adeline signs.  I received a lot of mixed information from different therapist and I was confused.  Adeline's EI encouraged us to use it, but her speech therapist at the time did not recommend it.  We did keep using the DVD's because Adeline loved them and I really liked the connection between the sign and the written word.  Adeline learned so much on her own by just watching the DVD's.  She was like a sponge with these. 

Now that Adeline is getting a little older, she will be three in April, I have noticed that  she is much quicker to use a new word if she uses the sign with it.  She will do both the sign and say the word.  It seems to help her connect her communication.  When she wants a cookie she will sign and say "cookie please", "thank you".  I feel that the sign is helping give her a prompt for her words.

If I had a chance to do it all over again I would have been more consistent with the sign language from the very beginning.   I don't think that she needs to learn hundreds of words but the important words in her environment have been helpful.  It has helped her make a request and let us know what she needs.


Sandy has a great blog WeCanDoAllThings. Sandy's passionate about letting parents know that even if your child does learn differently it is Ok, and you as a parent can help them and work with them. She's proud of homeschooling her family and plans on doing the same with Adeline. Check her site for some great tips to teach young children gross and fine motor skills, language concepts, math concepts - and the best part her awesome pictures show just how much fun Adeline is having learning these great concepts!


... and her button...

I didn't forget :)

The Sign: MEET!

Hope the EASTER BUNNY brings you good CANDY in your BASKET!

Have a great weekend with your family and friends. Enjoy your time together. We hope you have a great Easter! Enjoy your egg hunts, dying eggs, and all your other family traditions. Little Fingers is going to get her fingers on some plastic eggs in her first egg hunt! Sign: EGG HUNT? (click here!)

EASTER EGG craft with Sign Language!

So being a new mom, I've been trying to think of an idea Little Fingers can make as a gift for family members being she's only 12 months! This is what I came up with! Sponge painting - in the shape of eggs! 

We're doing it today. I'll let you know how we make out! It's so easy - just cut an oval out of a sponge (clean sponge please). Have paint available on perhaps a paper plate. Grab the egg shaped sponge and go to town! Enjoy!

Not in the mood to get dirty? Here's a coloring page instead :)

Sign: ON for WTSW

Today's Wednesday! 

What's the Sign Wednesday? ON!

Thank you to We Can Do All Things for the suggestion. 

Sign: ON

It's a tricky one! Here you see a sign for ON, but I'm sure you can think of several ways to use the word ON in a sentence.


For example:
1. On Tuesdays, I go to soccer practice.
2. Turn the light on.
3. The book is on the table. 
4. The show is on.


This sign ON is mostly describing when something is ON something else. It's definitely on #1 and try not to use it for #2 or #4. #1 describes a time concept (very different). #4 really means 'has started'. 


See.. these very few examples all describe different on's! That brings me to ASL vs. SEE1 vs. SEE2 -- different kinds of sign language here in America, but that's a post meant for another day after the holiday week :). 


It's also important to note that the sign above: ON can be used for all four meanings of the word 'on' as described above when used  for what's called adaptive signs. Adaptive signs are used for some individuals who use sign language as an alternative form of communication. 


Thanks again We Can Do All Things! Great topic starter!