18 mos - A look back at Signing

Recently several people have asked me about our experience with using baby sign language. My answer is always that it's been awesome and so very helpful. We've avoided so many meltdowns simply by being able to communicate. Signing is proof that children truly do understand way more than we think they do. They may not be able to use words because their vocal cords aren't ready yet but their motor skills are well developed by age 1, and by using signs they can show us they understand so much more than you'd imagine.

At about 6 mos we started signing with our little pickle. I found that learning the signs myself from online animated dictionaries was much more helpful than reading a book on the subject. Books seemed to leave too much of the signs up for interperatation. Animations show you exactly how to make the sign correctly. The first signs we chose to teach were "more," "all done," and "milk." She caught on within a few months of being consistent with showing the sign and saying the word every time we used it. This was despite the fact that Katen was in daycare at the time and was not signed to during the day. (So working moms and dads, you can do this too!)

After mastering 2-3 signs we'd move on to learning a few more. At about the age of 12mos I noticed a huge (and I mean huge) breakthrough. When it used to take Katen a few mos to learn a sign, she'd now learn them in a few weeks and soon she was learning them in a few days. Now at 18mos if you show her a sign and use it a few times, she's got it and she'll use it. She now knows over 50 signs with "eat, drink, sleep, more, all done, and help" being the most helpful in my opinion.

Now that Katen is a year old, we let her watch Signing Time videos and they really increase her confidence and help reinforce the signs she already knows. She feels really good when they say a word and she immediately knows the sign. Generally we don't park her in front of the TV for those though. We watch it with her and discuss the signs, etc. We also pick up and use a lot of the songs that they use with their signs. I'll admit that some of them are really catchy!

If there's any advice I can give, it's to BE CONSISTENT and DON'T GIVE UP. It may take a while at first for the baby to repeat the sign (they understand them well before they use them) and you may have to watch very carefully for any effort to come close to making the sign from your baby. When they do, applaud their effort, repeat the sign, letting them know you understood, and make a big deal about it. Your child may also make their own version of the sign. That's fine! Still repeat it using the correct sign. They'll know you understand.

I really feel like we'd have a very frustrated toddler on our hands if we hadn't started signing at an early age. Pickle is very independent and really has a need to be understood. By signing together it feels like there's a deeper connection because I can understand a little more about what she's thinking or feeling. Most kids don't learn about feelings until they're older and able to verbalize. However we've been able to begin working on emotional intelligence well in advance of that. This ability, again, will help keep temper tantrums at bay. Obviously there are still temper tantrums but now they usually revolve around mommy saying that horrible word, "no." Oh the horror!



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Spring finally...

We've been having a lot of fun lately. Today we picked up a little slide that I found on craigslist for Katen. So far she's have a great time with it. I'd been looking for one for a while because she looooves the slides at the park. She also mowed the lawn with me today. I wore her on my back in her carrier and she thought it was the funniest thing ever. It's nice to finally trade the snowblower for the lawn mower.

Below are a few videos. Katen's begun to "talk" on the phone and her calls are very business-like. She's also quite the dancing fool and has even started to twirl herself in circles until she's completely dizzy. I'm not sure why that's fun but she does it a lot. Crazy kid!

She's built quite a vocabulary both verbally and through sign language as well. You'll see her demonstrate just a few of her signs. Enjoy!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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Football, Sign Language, and Raspberries

Sorry, no snazzy title today. After Katen successfully slept all night for two nights straight, she returned to her old self last night. I'll remember those two restful nights fondly.

Anyway...

On Wednesday we watched Daddy play in his last regular season flag football game. Of course they won. They're that good. (for 30-something men.) Our friend Amy, who is a whiz with the camera, was shooting pictures of the game, so I had a little fun editing some. (above) She also snapped a few of Katen. This one melts my heart...

We really look forward to watching Daddy play and visiting with the other wives and kids. It's a nice mid-week break and the weather has been great so far.

Last night we had our "Singing Together" class again. Katen enjoyed it a little more this time and spent a good portion of the class sitting on the floor blowing raspberries REALLY loudly, drooling like a St.Bernard. I don't know how many people have asked, "Is she teething?" Who knows. We keep thinking so, but there's still no signs on those adorable gummy smiles.

Katen's friends Maya, Ella, and Jacob seem to be getting more out of the class than we are but they're older too. They shake their maracas and clap their hands. We... well we like to eat the maracas. I'm sure there's some educational value in that too though, right?

Honestly, I think Katen just knows that the songs are dorky. She's smart that way. And it's true. The songs are totally dorky. And boring. And incredibly educational. Zzzz snooze. We're supposed to listen to the recorded CD every day in the car. Frankly it makes me miss Baby Mozart. I'm a horrible influence. How about we compromise with some U2 Lullaby's instead, Katen? (now you're talkin')

Speaking of education, sign language is going okay. Katen sort of knows milk and will do it for me when she's not tired. Singing more is a little more interpretive. You have to use your imagination a little. I've decided that maybe just this once I'll allow Katen to watch a video. I've downloaded some episodes of a show called Signing Time and My Baby Can Talk on my laptop, and I think I'll let her watch it. There's also a little song using the words More, Milk, and Please that I want her to see. She loves music and I think it will give her another avenue for learning the signs. I'll let you know how it goes.

...and one more picture. I tried to do a photo shoot at home and thought none of the pictures really came out well. Then I looked back and saw this one.

She. Cracks. Me. Up. Thhhhht!

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Songs and Signs & Katen vs the cat

Katen started her Songs and Signs class tonight along with her friends Maya,Ella and Jacob. We'll do this on Thursdays for six weeks. I'm not sure how much she got out of it. She was pretty tired but did some flirting with Jacob and gave hugs to Maya. The songs were very simple and repetitive which is great for Mommies who have short memories and to be honest it's great for the little ones too. I appreciated the mix of standing up, sitting down, dancing around, and playing with instrunments that Katen could hold. There was just enough movement to keep her from getting too antsy. ...and enough to make Mommy sweat. Great workout! Anyway, it's too early to tell if Katen is going to learn anything about very basic rythm and tone but the instructor assures us that babies of all ages learn it by the end of class. Sounds like a good challenge to me!

In other news...

Katen's newest trick is whining. It's like she's faking a cry. Her face doesn't indicate she's upset but she does this little quiet cry when she's getting bored or wants something. If she doesn't get what she's after, she'll up the volume to an all out cry. Who knew a kid started whining before they could even talk?

She's also become very communicative with animals and other kids. When she wants to call the cat she makes this "cah!" sound until Swiffer stolls by. I'm not sure how Swiff knows that's her cue, but she almost always comes when Katen calls. weird. To be honest I'm not even sure why Swiffer comes within 10 feet of our Pickle. The kiddo is absolutely fascinated with the cat and will pull her tail or her fur almost any time she gets hear enough. If the cat thinks Katen is going to play nice, she's got another thing coming. She'd also better watch out once Katen starts crawling because Pickle loves to stalk that cat.

[oohhh cat! scoot, scoot, scoot] [YES! I've got you....] [Hey! Where are you goin'?]

[ Come back!] [Was it something I said?]

The same sound is made when Katen sees another baby. She erupts in a wide smile and greets the baby with a "cah!" (Which tells me that Cah doesn't mean cat exclusively or that she's trying to say the correct word.)

A few mornings ago I left Katen playing with her activity gym and when I returned she was trying to communicate with the baby on the Pampers box I'd put in her nursery. I almost died laughing. She just kept talking to it and touching the baby's face. How cute is that!? I need to start cutting out pictures of babies and give her an audience of friends for her play mat. She'd have fun for hours! (Okay let's not kid ourselves. Katen has the attention span of a flea. Busy, busy, busy...)

Speaking of the play gym, this is what happens when the gym isn't entertainment enough. It looks like she got into a wrestling match when the boppy and the curtain ganged up on her. I think she came out on top though. ;)

whew!

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Baby Sign Language

This weekend I'm kicking off our Baby Sign Language education. The first "word" I've chosen for Katen is Milk.

Click on the word to see how we sign "Milk."

This is a word that we can use, repeat, and practice often so I felt it was an appropriate for her first. Now if I can teach the ladies at daycare to do it we'll really be in business. I doubt they'll humor me but it's worth a try.


Why am I teaching Katen Sign Language?

1. First and foremost, it's something that Katen and I can do together. As a working mother I want to make the most of my time with her and this helps us to interact with eachother in a meaningful way.

2. It will help us as parents to understand the wants and needs of our baby, and decrease overall frustration for her. Using baby signing enables a baby to convey what she wants and needs. Research indicates that if a baby can communicate what she wants and needs – even if the parent must say “no” in response – the baby will know that she was understood and experience less frustration. Reduced frustration results in less crying and a much happier baby. (especially as she moves into the frustrating days of toddlerhood).

3. Enhance Katen's language skills. A common myth about baby signing is that a child who is taught baby signing will choose to use signing over verbal speech. The opposite is true. Not only will a baby choose verbal speech over signing, but signing will increase baby’s verbal abilities.

4. Increase our little pickle's IQ. (As if she isn't a smart cookie already.) Results taken from a longitudinal study revealed a 12-point difference in IQ scores when babies who used signing were compared to babies who did not sign. Babies who signed had IQ scores that were almost one standard deviation above those who did not. That is a big leap,

Here are some tips that I've learned so far:

Choose a few signs to start. The best signs to start with are MILK, MORE and EAT since the signs are very different from each other and are easy for babies to make.

Nest learn signs for basic needs since you'll use those words often. Eating, sleeping, personal hygiene, and things your baby is interested in all make great things to sign. Try APPLE, BANANA, SLEEP, CHANGE (as in diaper change), and BATH.

Show the sign in context. Show the sign while you are interacting with the concept or object. For example, you can sign milk while feeding your baby a bottle or while nursing. Or, if your baby eats, sign EAT while your baby eats.

Say the word as you sign and emphasize it. Don’t think signing means a lifetime of silence. Actually, it is the opposite. Parents who sign find that they talk more with their child. Talk directly to your child. Speak clearly and emphasize the word or words you are signing so that your baby gets the connection between the word and the sign and the action or concept. That three-way connection is important to developing your communication.

Practice often. A key to success is using the signs you choose every time you engage in the activity or say the word. Every time you eat, use the EAT sign and use it frequently during the eating process. Once is not enough since babies need to see things hundreds of times to learn. So, say “We’re going to EAT. Do you want to EAT?” And then as you eat, say “Let’s EAT another bite of cereal.” Parents who are successful say that they sign often. It is less important to know a lot of signs than it is to use the signs you know.

...and Here are some of the resources that I'm using in case anyone else wants to give it a shot:

Video dictionary of signs

Videos from SigningTime on YouTube.com

ICanSign

CafeMom.com - this is where I can chat with other Moms teaching baby sign language

BabyCenter - another chat resource

So... we'll see how this goes. I'll be sure to post updates. Wish us luck!