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Signing to BabyBaby signing for hearing parents and babies. An alternate form of communication for your baby, before they can verbally tell you what they want and need.
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ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
This is a discussion on ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing within the Signing to Baby forums, part of the Parenting Babies & Toddlers category; My dear signing mommies,
Here are some inputs as far the use of ASL, Make-up or invented signs and ...
ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
My dear signing mommies,
Here are some inputs as far the use of ASL, Make-up or invented signs and Taking the child's lead. I would suggest that you read all the comments with an open mind. In baby signing, there is no "better" program there is ONLY one goal for us parents....to communicate with our babies. There maybe different ways to "communicate" with our babies, but I live that decision to you mommies, because you know your babies and your capabilities. The most important thing is "be happy and have fun doing it". Moms who made this comments are "baby signing" themselves.
Feel free to comment!
Have a wonderful week!
Quote:
Hi everyone,
The question of modifing signs seems to be what I hear the most
controversy about when it comes to siging with infants. Parents
have expressed concern over not teaching the "right" signs, however
the responce that I have the best reaction to is reminding parents
that we modify spoken language as well.
We don't expect toddlers to say pacifier so we make up a shorter
word for it (paci, nuk, plug,...). We don't typically expect a child
to say that he has an injury, rather he says he has a "booboo".
Enter any childcare center and you will find at least one teacher
who has shortened her name (ie. Ms. B), because her name is too hard
for the children to pronounce. It is a acceptable, common and
developmentally appropriate manner to help children express
themselves verbally.
Using Baby Signs(R)is no different. Children's signs will transition
to the "correct sign" if parents continue to teach that sign when
the child is developmentally ready, just as children will learn to
say "Mrs. Brewster" when thier language is ready for that
transition. However, parents have the choice to only teach Baby
Signs(R) and then not transition to ASL signs if the need for sign
is no longer present. Just as a child may never need to call Mrs.
Brewster by name after leaving her class.
I hope using the example of modifing spoken words can help parents
to put aside thier fears and just enjoy communicating with thier
child. I am sure you can all think of many other examples. Hope
this helps!
Keep building strong, healthy families!
Bonita
Quote:
*Clapping my hands and giving a whistle for Bonita*
Of course we have all given examples of different ways to explain this often asked question, but I must admit that the example of how a child may shorten a teacher's name and then after leaving the classroom may never have to use it, or will use it the proper way if seeing her later in the school hallway.
To me, that IS the PERFECT "mind picture" to give to a parent to think about, and I, for one, will remember this and use it!
Annie of PA
Quote:
Babies CAN make up their own signs, I have seen this with my own dd. Moreover, what about Kate, the first Baby Signs Baby, who inspired Linda & Susan to start their research by making up the sign for flower? My dd made up her own sign for “bath” – actually it is the real sign, but I had never taught it to her, and also her own sign for giraffe – licking lips back & forth while she was watching them strip the leaves off of trees.
I compare it to the spoken word – don’t babies make up their own words or modify adult words to make them easier to say? The BSI training CD teaches us that we can compare it to “soda” or “pop” instead of the official word “soft drink”. Or what about tummy or belly? You would be hard pressed to find a parent who teaches that part of the body to their child as “abdomen” even though technically that is the correct word. My dd says “booss” instead of spoon, as that is what she is able to say. She knows what it is really called but cannot say it.
Quote:
Hi.
My thought is also that, not only do we modify signs to allow for a baby's developing dexterity, but we also do the Baby Signs (R) Program to aid in communication before babies can actually talk. Some families may want this as a foundation for using ASL later on, maybe as a second language, but I think a very important part of this is about the communication between parent and baby. I have a nine month old. I'm interested in signing to her so she can communicate to us. It doesn't really matter right now if she knows the "correct" way to sign something - just so we know what she wants. I compare it to my 5-year-old twins. They say some words correctly, in the correct context. One of my girls the other day said, "We need to stabilize that better." She used the word "stabilize" (much to my surprise!), but then said, "I goed to my friend's house." She's still communicating with me. I know what she wants. But she's not using "correct" English. That doesn't mean she won't learn it the right way later - she will. But I know what she is talking about and that's what's important.
Quote:
Hi-
I have an opinion that may or may not be worth something to you. My son John made up half of his signs from some song videos and motions that my mom and I did while sing some children's songs to him. He would do them over and over until we responded appropriately. If the point for the parent is to simply communicate before the baby can talk (which tends to be the point for most moms vs actually teaching a second language) then why does it matter as long as you know what the child is trying to say. My other point is that most people change some words to talk to their children for instance most adults don't say potty, doggie or squetti (instead of spaghetti), but we do and so do our children when they are learning to talk. At some point, most kids naturally transition to the correct words and will transtion to the correct sign if given the same oppurtunity and presented with the correct sign at an appropriate developmental period. You could also use the idea of saying blue for all shades when young and the changing to turquoise, sky blue, royal blue etc. as you get older.
Re: ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
Hi Amy,
I'm new here and just reading through some of the old posts. As I read this one, it seems as though all the the comments came from moms who have used the Baby Signs program (and it sound like they are "instructors" as well), not moms who have used ASL with their babies. That seems pretty one-sided. Maybe if the comments listed were 3 who used Baby Signs and 3 who used ASL, it would be more informative to others reading this so they could make educated decisions on their children's behalf.
Personally, I choose to teach my children the correct way to speak and sign. When my son was much younger, he signed MORE by clapping both fists together, then one fist to one palm, then one finger to one palm, then the correct ASL sign for MORE. Throughout, I continued to sign MORE to him in the correct fashion, and did not start signing it incorrectly just because he did. I always knew what he was signing and would reinforce the sign correctly as I said the word aloud. Just as when he used to say "aminal" instead of "animal", I didn't start saying it incorrectly just because that's how he did it. As with anything, we progress as we practice. My son's signs have continued to evolve until he does them the correct way as does his speech.
One thing I wouldn't do is start saying a word incorrectly to make it easier for my son that many other people right here in the US would find offensive (as is the case when a Deaf person may see some of the invented or modified signs being used).
Plus, I LOVE the idea of my son learning another language at such a young age. I teach him things that he will build on, not things he will use for a short bit and then discard. My son has been able to communicate with a Deaf father at a playgroup, a hard of hearing friend, and lots of other signing friends long before they were able to talk to each other. If each child had been shown some sort of modified or invented sign instead of our country's third most widely used language, they would not have been able to communicate.
I know that Baby Signs says it is ASL-based. However, from all the research I've done and all of the Baby Signs materials I have seen (and even the input of a Baby Signs District Manager), this is not the case. There seem to be a handful of ASL signs and then a bunch of made up or modified signs.
I'm hoping as I go through the other posts on this board that I will find them to be much less one-sided and much more educational for the average mom out there hoping to find out about signing with her baby.
Re: ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
Hello Emma,
I have forwarded your response to the "BABY SIGNS INSTRUCTORS" as you have described them.
I believe that when this message was posted, there was no intent of being one-sided.
When I started this board it is with the intention to learn from each other, as far as Baby Signing in general is concern. I have posted other products and programs related to "baby signing".
You are very much welcome to express your OWN views about Baby Signing. I just hope that you and someone else would not make the "selection" for these moms as far as which is the best "program" there is in the country. Just because you represent a specific company.
I have advised moms from this board to do a research on every "baby signining" program and see what fits them and their child.
Re: ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
Hello,
I too use ASL with my son. I went to College for Sign Language Communication and I am actually a Baby Sign Language instructor with a company that promotes ASL. The way That I see it is, my son is learning another langauge and as he grows and enters school he will be able to communicate with children in his class, wether they be deaf, autistic, down syndrome, and use ASL as their main form of communication because they may have difficulty communicating verbally. Imagine how that child or that child's parent would feel knowing that their child is not isolated and other children are making an attempt to communicate with them??
I also like teaching ASL to my son because it is understood throughout Canada and the United States. Signs that he uses can be understood by others who know ASL where as signs that might be made up would only be understood by his immediate family. You are right Amy people can make their own choices and wether it be ASL or Made up signs it is still a beneficial way of communicating with our children either way. I choose to do ASL and am very happy with my choice.
Re: ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
Hi again,
Amy, thanks for your reply and the reply you sent to my personal email as well. I just wanted to clarify that I certainly am not trying to promote a specific company, although I am a presenter through an ASL-based company (ASL, not modified signs). However, I do believe in promoting the use of ASL with babies and toddlers. My children are prime examples of how easy and effective using ASL can be (both at home and when going out into the world filled with people who use ASL as their primary means of communication).
I guess I was taking issue with the fact that when I read the into to this post, I thought I was going to see a variety of ways to sign with babies mentioned and maybe compared and contrasted:
"Here are some inputs as far the use of ASL, Make-up or invented signs and Taking the child's lead. I would suggest that you read all the comments with an open mind. In baby signing, there is no "better" program there is ONLY one goal for us parents....to communicate with our babies. There maybe different ways to "communicate" with our babies, but I live that decision to you mommies, because you know your babies and your capabilities. The most important thing is "be happy and have fun doing it". Moms who made this comments are "baby signing" themselves."
However, when all I saw was why using modified or invented signs was so great, and that the comments all came from Baby Signs Instructors (as you verified in the email to my personal account that the comments were all written by Instructors), it seemed as though the "discussion" was really more persuasion than objective discussion.
I, too, would recommend parents do the necessary research before deciding how they will go about signing with their baby. I hope, however, that parents are not mislead if a program claiming to be ASL-based when that may not necessarily be the case. I keep thinking, if somebody told me I could communicate with my baby by speaking Spanish with them, would I say "Oh, Spanish is too hard for babies, I'll just make up something with a few Spanish words and refer to it as Spanish-based"? And then wander into the Spanish-speaking world possibly offending native speakers with my made up words, and not be able to communicate with all those who speak Spanish? Or would I teach my baby Spanish and, even though her Spanish may not be perfect from the beginning, give her a basis to build upon and a way to communicate with others who may often be excluded? I know my choice (and, yes, it is just my choice and my opinion, Parents, do your own research into what is best for your family).
Sorry, Amy, I know you are no longer with Baby Signs or this forum, so I'm probably beating a dead horse. Just my opinion on the subject (and, no, not to promote a particular company, or products, or anything except the use of ASL). Thanks again for your replies!!
Re: ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
I just wanted to pop in here. I am not an instructor or anything, but I wanted to share a bit of my story. I stared out signing to my baby using the Baby Signs book. I had taken an ASL class years ago and when I decided that I wanted to continue with signing I found resources to relearn ASL and switched to all ASL signs. My dd was a little over a year old at the time I switched and we had no problems. I think that all the programs are great. I believe that parents need to decide what the ultimate goal is, do they want to sign until the child can talk? Or do they want to teach a second language? Then I think it would be obvious which direction you'd want to take.
Amy really helped me out when I first started posting here, and I still recomend Baby Signs for those mom's that will only use it for their child until they can talk. Thank you Amy!
Kate is 2yo now and I don't visit here much, but still stop in once and awhile. I look forward to hearing from the other posters on this thread. I'm sure I will learn alot from their wisdom as I haven't met too many people that are using signing as a second language
ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
Re: ASL, Make-up Signs and Taking a Child's lead in baby signing
