Giving up on signs...

whittyanne · #1 (**permalink**) 04-11-2005, 05:08 PM

So I had given up on "cat." For whatever reason, it felt like, no matter how many times I showed him, he couldn't get it. Which is funny b/c we have two cats and I always thought cat/kitty would be one of his first words or signs...

But he wasn't saying or doing it, so I figured, forget it, b/c he has said so many other and learned so many other signs lately.

Well today, I was feeding the cats and I turned to Nate and said, "I'm just feeding the kitties and will be right there" and he did the sign! I hadn't shown it to him in a good week or two! He remembered! Goes to show they really do remember and learn - sometimes they just chose to do it in their own time -- so to anyone who has thought of giving up on a particular sign, keep persisting!!

He did the same with "sorry" recently as well.

andibon · #2 (**permalink**) 04-13-2005, 01:20 PM

Whitney! Funny running into you over here.

I've been thinking about signing with this baby, but I have no idea when you start. When did you start with Nate? When do you think he understood it?

Do you recommend any particular books or videos for signing?

Andrea

mom2mya · #3 (**permalink**) 04-13-2005, 05:13 PM

That is so cool Whitney!!! Nate totally remembered!

Hi Andrea!

I'll jump in and answer some of those questions. I started basic needs signs to Mya at 6 months. I started with eat, milk and all done. She started signing back to me around 10 months. Each month, I would add more signs. Now she has signing vocabulary of about 20 words. It is really cool!

I use the Signing Time video on occasion. Mya loves books and I have the Baby Signs books from Discovery Toys that she loves to flip through and look at by herself. Sometimes she'll look at the picture in the book and imitate what the child is doing.

Glad to hear that you're thinking about signing with your little one.

bonsmom · #4 (**permalink**) 04-14-2005, 07:12 PM

way to go Nate! Whitney, you had me nervous with your post title

whittyanne · #5 (**permalink**) 04-18-2005, 10:10 AM

Hey Andrea!! I'm glad you're coming over here!

We didn't start signing with Nate until he was a little over 12 months. Some of our neighbors did it and I didn't think to do it. I thought it was too late but it wasn't at all. We got him the Signing Time DVDs for Xmas and I started showing them to him. It took about 2 months - but it was more than just the DVDs that did it, it was us reinforcing them.

Today Nate does about 2 dozen signs - it's the best! He only says about 12-15 words so it's very helpful to have him sign what he wants when he can't say it. He must sign "HELP" about a hundred times a day now.

A really good friend of mine sells the Signing Time DVDs at a discount - if you are intersted, check out her website:
http://www.preciouspersonalities.com

If you do buy them from her too, mention you know me and you found out about her from Mommies with Style (my site), b/c she's currently offering a deal where if you order them and mention my site, you get a free bath book.

Sorry it took so long for me to respond! I only come here every couple of days since it's so low-traffic.

whittyanne · #6 (**permalink**) 04-18-2005, 10:16 AM

Oh and... he definitely understood it right away, but I think that's b/c he was older. My neighbors and people in my Moms Club have started as early as 6 months and I know a lot of them say their kids have started signing/getting it around 9 months or so.

NiaSadeMomma · #7 (**permalink**) 04-20-2005, 09:20 AM

Hello everyone!

Sorry if I have been "absent" lately. My husband and I are in the process of moving. From Virginia to Arizona.....so just imagine the chaos....anyway....I would you all to look at the Baby Signs Website and look at the CIRCLE OF TIMES books (set of six). Let me know if you need to order I will do it for you. Its $ 13.00 (shipping included already!

Talk to you soon!