Tips on Signing with Babies and Toddlers
- Begin with just a few signs like more, eat, all done.
- That you sign consistently every time you use the words
with your child.
- Use them when you are reading books or playing games to
reinforce the learning of each word.
- That you use the words, especially with very young children
(under 1 year) at special times where you can gain the most amount of their
attention, ie: meal, bath times, when singing songs or when reading a book.
- That you sign correctly even if your child makes a version
of the sign that you understand. You do not have to force them to sign correctly,
but it is best if you do.
- That you begin to add more signs as you become more comfortable.
Choose signs that you not only want your child to learn but also signs that
are of interest to them (bird, dog, mom, dad etc.)
- Keep the activity fun, playful and interactive with you
young child.
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on Signing with Babies and Toddlers
Signing with Toddlers, and Preschoolers
- You can begin at any time because all children find signing
to be fun and interesting.
- Choose words and songs that are interest to you and your
child.
- Learn to sing and sign the songs that you and your child
love to do together.
- Keep in mind that you do not have to sign every word. You
can choose to leave out signs until your child masters the songs and beginning
signs. Add more as you go along
- Keep the activity fun, do not force participation or sign
accuracy. Interaction, playfulness and movement along with the songs will
provide the learning activity you are seeking to provide.
- Incorporate signs that you have been teaching into other
activities (reading and games) and every day conversation.
- May want to read over steps on how to teach movement/signing
songs to children
For More Information on Signing
with Preschoolers
Tips on How To Teach a Signed Song to Children:
- Review the video/DVD and choose the song that you are going
to present
- Practice the song until you can sing and sign the song
confidently.
- Present the signs clearly and slowly to your children,
helping them to learn to sign each word correctly.
- Always have your children's attention and be encouraging
and supportive and never coerce.
- Talk the song and sign the words slowly with the children
following along
- Sing and sign the song slowly with the children following
and singing along
- Sing and sign the song at a faster tempo or play the song
on the TV for everyone to follow along, singing and signing.
- Praise all your children's efforts.
- Us the signs, found in the song, with your children at
other times during the day, in conversation or while reading a book. This
reinforces their learning and strengthens memory and recall.
- When singing the song again, review the signs before singing
until you are sure the children know all the signs in the song. It's always
great to get them participating by asking them how to sign each of the words
that they remember.
- Follow these steps for any song that you want to teach
your children. Keep in mind that
- children often love to sing songs over and over.
- introducing 2 or 3 new songs is all you want to do
at any one time.
- Always review and sing 1 or 2 familiar songs before
moving on to a new one.
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Tips on Signing with Elementary Age Children
- You can begin at any time because all children find signing
to be fun and interesting.
- Choose songs that are of interest to you and your children.
Choices can be made based on 1) using sign and song to support the learning
of core curriculum (ABC's, Numbers, Colors, Animals, Rhymes, etc.); 2) or
a song that fits a theme (seasonal, patriotic); 3) or a song because it is
a great classic folk song or rhyme; 4) or simple a song because it will be
fun to do.
- Learn to sing and sign the song from the DVD or video before
teaching words to you children
- Teach it slowly to the children first
- Then watch and sing and sign along with the DVD or video
or simply sing and sign with your children.
- Incorporate signing into everyday activities
- Use the new signed words learned often during the course
of each day.
- May want to read over steps on how to teach movement/signing
songs to children.
For more information on Signing with Elementary Children
We Sign Objectives
- We Sign's goals are to provide children, parents, teachers
and caregivers:
- With a way to improve and enhance early communication skills
between parents and children.
- A music and movement activity that is fun and playful.
- With an activity that provides many wonderful, research
supported, benefits to children and their parents.
- With a learning rich activity that involves a wide variety
of learning styles (physical, visual, verbal, etc.)
- A playful way to learn educational basics, ABC's, Numbers,
Colors, Rhymes, Animals and more.
- With a fun bonding activity for parents, grandparents, teachers
and caregivers.
- With an activity that develops fine and gross motor skills
along with
- With an activity that fosters memory and recall enhancement.
- That will create awareness in families and in our community
about American Sign Language, the fourth most commonly used language in the
U.S.
- With an interesting approach to learning new and traditional
children's songs.
Instructor or Signing Skills
The We Sign Program's requires no knowledge of sign language
to be successful. Studies have shown that children benefit equally
from instructors who are fluent in signing or have had no previous experience
but have the desire to incorporate its movement into a child's life.
Here are the We Sign qualifications that will help you to be successful:
- Have the desire to provide a fun, playful interactive program
for children.
- Prepare yourself in advance by learning the songs and signs
you wish to introduce.
- Instruct and lead with joy and enthusiasm.
- Positively and enthusiastically support the efforts of
your children.
- Creatively add the signed words into daily activities.
- Understand you do not need to be a trained vocalist to
lead a group sing.
By using our videos you can learn to sing the songs and sign
the words before you begin leading your program. It only takes minutes to learn
to sing and sign a song. Keep in mind that this program is not teaching ASL
as a language but rather using its movement and visual nature to enhance learning.
Be Playful and Encouraging
When using the We Sign program keep in mind
that this movement and singing activity should always remain fun and playful.
We want to ensure that children will not only learn but will enjoy their Fun
Time experience. Always be positive and supportive of the activity. Encourage
them to sign correctly but never force or coerce. Praise and reward them whether
or not their signing was correct. With repeated participation of this fun activity,
signing accuracy will come.
Be Creative
We want to encourage everyone, children and adults alike, to be
creative in the use of the signs that they learn. Try to incorporate words
learned into daily life, use the signs whenever you say the word or an opportunity
to use a sign presents itself. For example, you can sign the word cat or dog
when you see one at home or outside or you can sign them when your are reading
about them in a book. The same holds true for all the words you will learn
in the songs on the Fun Time video.
We also want you to be creative with the songs that you learn.
Many of the songs lend themselves to being re-written to fit you and your child's
interests. For example, once you have learned a song like A Really Good Treat,
you can substitute other food words (ie: bananas or pears) for food words found
in the song. If the song lends itself to actions, even if you don't know the
sign, let the children move and act as they wish. You can find other words
on our We Sign videos, in ASL dictionaries or other books and at on line resources.
Accuracy & Vocal Abilities vs. Playful Interaction
We Sign Program's goal is to provide parents, teachers and caregivers
with fun music and movement activities for children. We want to ensure that
children will not only learn but will enjoy their experience at school, in
the community or at home. We encourage participation and interaction in a playful
manner. Terrific voices and perfect signs are not needed or required. We suggest
that adults always use the correct sign and if a child is having a problem,
then gently and lovingly help them to form the word. Encourage children to
sign correctly but never force or coerce. Praise and reward all children whether
or not their signing was correct. Always choose playful interaction
over accuracy and vocal abilities.
Importance of parental / teacher involvement
Parent, teacher, caregiver involvement is an important component
to the We Sign Program. It provides the basis for continued use and reinforcement
of sign and songs at home. Inclusion ensures that a positive message to children
that learning can be fun and that they can be empowered with the use of language.
Providing parents with continued information of the benefits of signing with
their children is as important as teaching the children. Parents need to come
to understand how wonderful signing is for establishing a child's readiness
to enter school. Though We Sign videos are wonderful for children to watch
on their own, increased benefits available to young children with parental
involvement.
TV as a Learning medium
We Sign has chosen a video / DVD / TV medium for its products
because sign language and its movements are very visual and we felt it offered
everyone the best opportunity for learning and making use of this wonderful
opportunity. We Sign encourages everyone to participate with their videos,
to become energized and not mesmerized, and follow along with the signs and
songs. We Sign believes that active parental / teacher involvement in the viewing
of the videos as well as in sing and sign along activities will enhance the
learning process and take the experiences well beyond the viewing of the program
on TV
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