Testimonials

Though I am moving towards the end of my inquiry (due to the impending due date), I have returned to exploration "...the initial action taken to seek answers to a question" (Callison, 2006) to gain some more personal insights into signing with babies.  


To help further my inquiry I posted a poll on my Facebook page. I have many friends with children and was curious to see if any of them use/used sign language. I have only received one response so far but wanted to share the information. This is what I posted:

I am doing an inquiry project for my class this semester.

I am studying signing with babies. I personally use signs with 

Emma and have discovered some great resources. However, 

I would really love to hear your thoughts and personal experiences. 

If you would be willing to share with me

 please respond to this post or send me a message. Thanks!

 Some questions I am interested in answering:

1. Why did you begin signing with your child?
2. At what age did you begin signing with your child?
3. How have you taught the signs?
4. What signs do you use? Why?
5. What are some benefits you have experienced by signing with your child?
6. Anything else you would like to share! Personal observations are welcomed.

This is what a friend of mine shared:

"I used sign with my first. I wish I had taken the time to teach it to my second as well.

The two are so close in age that some things had to go in caring for two babies, and sign,

 unfortunately, was one of those.I loved signing with Alivia. I used the sign and the word

 simultaneously, beginning with the sign for "milk" when nursing. She was several months 

old when I began signing with her, well before she was able to make the signs herself. 

She had quite an extensive expressive and receptive sign vocabulary by the time she did 

start talking, everything from "milk" to "motorcycle." When she did start talking, she 

progressed very quickly from single words to complex sentences. Elliott on the other

 hand is developing speech much slower than Alivia, though I am reluctant to say that it 

was because of the lack of the use of sign language that he is progressing more slowly 

than his sister. I loved the fact that though Alivia couldn't talk, she could express her thoughts

 and desires at a young age. I think that is probably the neatest thing about baby sign language.

 I would encourage all parents to invest in a book of simple signs--

I used a book called "The Joy of Signing"--and choose the signs they think will be most-

used by their little one. I would suggest starting at 3-4 months old if not sooner.

 And I would suggest using both the verbal word and the sign at the same time. "

~Annie

We also have a family friend with a child that uses sign language due to a disability that makes him currently unable to easily form words. This child is also growing up in a bilingual home. He attends a special school that uses sign language and Spanish to communicate with the children. This child's younger brother is learning signs from him and is able to use them to communicate as a toddler. Signing has allowed Peter to communicate with his parents, sibling and peers. He will hopefully develop verbal speech one day, but is now able to function as a three year old via signing. His brother has been exposed to signs since birth and though he can talk he is able to use signs since he is still a pre-verbal toddler.  Although the parents do not know ASL they are learning signs along with the children and signing is also acting as a bridge between English and Spanish speakers.


Early use of manners is one benefit of signing that I have found personally significant.  "Please" and "thank you" are signs I have used from the very beginning of signing with Emma.  I taught "more, please" instead of just "more." As she started to sign "more" and "eat" I always asked her to say "please" as well. As her physical ability to form signs increased she quickly began signing "please." Recently she has been able to sign "thank you." Now I often do not have to ask her to "say" please or thank you, she automatically combines the manner sign with the request. She has also figured out when the use of these signs in appropriate in other situations. For instance, she was trying to get her Dad to play the other day, he was kind of distracted so she started signing "please." (try to say no to that!)  And when I handed her a toy she signed "thank you" without being prompted. Politeness is an attribute I highly value in children. I see many kids just ripping open presents or grabbing something without even a glance let alone a thank you.  Signing has given me the chance to instill the abstract concept of manners in Emma at a very young age. Though we haven't had to use it yet, "sorry" is another valuable sign that helps young children interact appropriately with peers.