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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

Begin with simple words Have your childs 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 childs own pace Use signing resources online and in books, such as dictionaries, tutorial videos, and suggestions

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 childs hand movements for attempts at signing back to you

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

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

Mastery of complex muscle actions Development of language skills earlier in life Teaches your child a second language Increases early literacy skills May increase childs IQ level Increases childs self satisfaction and accomplishment

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

Who benefits What are the benefits Click on your choice to begin

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

Children have the ability to use expressive speech Reduces frustration Breaks communication barriers Enhances self esteem Jumpstarts various areas of brain Intellectual development

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

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.

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 babys 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.

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 its mommy.

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.

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

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 babys 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?

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.

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.finished 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?

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.

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.

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

is the sign for mommy. Make sure you are practicing as you go

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.

is the sign for book

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.

2-3 months 4-6 months 6-9 months

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

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

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.

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.

begin with complex words while child is distracted half the time begin with simple words with childs complete attention start with a variety of words once a day

When teaching a child sign language you should begin with simple words with childs complete attention

INCORRECT Sorry please review the information and return to the question

Begin with simple words Have your childs 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 childs own pace Use signing resources online and in books, such as dictionaries, tutorial videos, and suggestions

fast pace patience slow pace repetition

Repetition is the key to success!

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 childs hand movements for attempts at signing back to you

CORRECT! Is the correct sign for More

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.

CORRECT! Is the correct sign for Happy

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.

Is the correct sign for Eat.

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

Is the correct sign for to go to bed

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.

Is the correct sign for milk

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.

Is the correct sign for All Done or Finished

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.finished

You have finished the lesson and quiz! How did you do? And.... What have you learned?....

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.