sign language

aajfoster

Has anyone started trying to teach your LO?  Any ideas how to start?  Just gathering general ideas about it.  TIA!

lissah23

We just started a Baby Signs class last week.  It's kind of like a playgroup but they learn new signs each week.

All of the signs we learn are ASL signs or baby friendly ASL signs, but you can really just make up your own.  

Pick things that you do or use all the time (milk, eat, sleep, book, etc.) and each time you say those things do your sign.  You have to use language along with the signs though so they relate the two and don't simply rely on the signs rather than speaking as they get older.

Each week we learn about 6 signs, but we only use 3 new ones each week so we don't overwhelm DS.

If you have any questions feel free to send me a PM...I can probably copy the book we've been given and send it to you.

SDKelli

I am wondering this too. I know a few of the basic signs, but no idea how to use them. Like for example, I want her to be able to tell me when she wants "more" so do I just start asking if she wants more and use the sign? Or only use the sign when I get her more?

jason&robin

We did it with our son. We have the Baby Signing Time movies and we would just sign when we did things. It really helped later on because he has a speech delay so that was the only way he could communicate with us. Now, he has learned how to say all the words for the signs we used so he no longer signs. I plan to do it will DD as well.

lissah23

SDKelli:

I am wondering this too. I know a few of the basic signs, but no idea how to use them. Like for example, I want her to be able to tell me when she wants "more" so do I just start asking if she wants more and use the sign? Or only use the sign when I get her more?

Do both! Whenever you say 'more' use the sign. 

Example: When we use the 'milk' sign we'll use it when we say "Kieran, do you want some milk?" and also when we say things like "mmm yummy milk". 

Chrysallys

I'm kicking myself over this because ASL was my language in college (I took three years of it) and I taught all my students ASL, yet I have been really sporatic on using it with DS. I need to get on it.

I'll be signing most anything/everything but for someone who just wants to use a few words, I'd suggest these to start:

MILK

EAT

MORE

FINISHED/DONE

MOM

DAD

BABY

SLEEP or BED

I plan on using TOILET even for diaper changes.

This is a great site to see videos of tons of signs.

https://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

 

JewelzNBean

We have been working on just a few signs - mainly so X can communicate his wants/needs. He knows milk, more and no more/all done.

The only problem we have is that he uses the all done sign too often at meal times! I need him to eat more, and he keeps signing all done. I don't want to stop feeding him when he's only had 1 or 2 bites - but he learned the sign and what it means, and if I don't 'respect' that he's said it, he won't think it means anything, right? So I just give him a few minutes and then try again. It's good, but it can be bad, too!!!

Chrysallys

SDKelli:

I am wondering this too. I know a few of the basic signs, but no idea how to use them. Like for example, I want her to be able to tell me when she wants "more" so do I just start asking if she wants more and use the sign? Or only use the sign when I get her more?

I'd use it both ways and make sure you say the word as you are signing.

jenn_darrin1515

we use "milk", "eat" "all done" and "more"....Milina will sign "milk" to mean milk or water...and they both get excited when we sign food (but don't do it themselves)...and that's as far as we got so far...I think I will start using "toilet" for diaper changes too (stealing the idea from the other poster)...we say it and sign it when we use them...