My daughter and I have been having some fun with iron-on transfers. She now has a choice between Dora, Kai-Lan and WeeHands t-shirts!
Click here to create your own WeeHands t-shirt have a look at this page to download a WeeHands iron-on transfer!
Send me a photo of your creation and we'll show it off!
There's a healthy discussion right now going on in the media and in the blogging world about all this stuff that parents may seem pressured to buy for their babies.
For me, all this parenting "stuff" is about choice. As parents we have a lot more choices than our parents did in the '60s and '70s (they didn't even have car seats then!). You can choose between a $120 stroller, an $800 one or even a $2000 one...or you can borrow one or spend $40 on a used one.
It's the same regarding baby sign language. You can choose to teach your baby sign language or not. You can choose a free resource that you can get from your library or from the internet. You can buy a book, flashcards or a
If you choose to teach your baby sign language which of the above you choose depends on what kind of learner you are. Maybe you are a book learner and can get it all from a book. Maybe you are a visual learner and want to see an instructor make the signs. Everyone's different.
The great thing about taking classes (which may be free classes at your library or paid classes at another community site) is that you can get feedback immediately about how you are signing. Your instructor, if he or she has a background in sign language, can give you immediate feedback and corrections regarding your signs.
As well, I've had parents in my classes who just love the social aspect of getting out with other adults who have babies the same age. There have even been instances in classes that I recognized that a baby is signing their first sign and I help a parent see that as well!
Using baby sign language with babies and toddlers is a good thing and it should be a choice that is given to parents. Using baby sign language is a parenting tool and it's a great option for those who choose it.
Here's a video showing American Sign Language numbers from 1-20. If it's too fast, pause as you needed and replay it as much as you want to learn how to count in ASL.
There is no difference between the sign for the number 9 and the sign for the letter F. Context will clarify which one you are using, .e.g., I want 9 chocolates vs I want F chocolates or My name is Frank vs My name is 9rank! Click here to read a great discussion regarding American Sign Language numbers.
When I count with my fingers I use ASL and use one hand. It's helpful - I remember one time I was counting (I was driving though) and I had to think about something and count (can't remember what I was counting!) but it was incredibly helpful that I could count on one hand and use the other for driving! (maybe I shouldn't do that too often though!)
As well, when you use ASL number signs you can get higher than ten without having to use your toes!
Song to Sign and Sing
Ten Little Kisses
(numbers & words in capitals are signed)
1 little, 2 little, 3 little KISSES
4 little, 5 little, 6 little KISSES
7 little, 8 little, 9 little KISSES
10 KISSES on your nose
(give your little one 10 kisses on his nose!)
Repeat until all your baby's body parts are kissed!
This also creates great opportunities to ask & sign: MORE? and WHERE?
April is going to be a busy month for everyone at WeeHands! We'll be at the following baby shows, please drop by our booth if you get the chance: BabyTime show (Toronto), Durham Parent Show (Pickering), Mamas and Chicks Spring Show (Oshawa) and the Kingston Baby and Kids Show (Kingston)>
I'll sign your copy of The Baby Signing Book if you like! I love these shows because we get to tell new and expecting families the benefits of using baby sign language and we get to chat with families from our classes and hear their signing stories!
We've done some playing and created a WeeHands Fan page on Facebook. Click here to have a look - we'll be adding more to the page over the next few days and weeks!
Sing and sign this song to the tune of “London Bridge”. Another essential building block to learning language is vocabulary development. This song will help your baby learn the words for many of his body parts. As well, it creates the opportunity to use signs for BABY in the song and MORE (with a questioning look) after the song is complete.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes – my sweet BABY!
Eyes and ear and mouth and nose,
mouth and nose, mouth and nose.
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose, my sweet BABY!
Gently touch your baby on the body parts named, as you sing and sign the song.
Please share your signing games and stories with our WeeHands group! Visit www.weehands.com for more signing fun!
Play interactive baby sign language games like "peek a boo" and "pat-a-cake" with your baby. These are great turn-taking games and the ability to take turns during a conversation is an essential building block to learning language.
Play face-to-face with your baby and when you've played or sung "peek a boo" and "pat-a-cake” game once, stop and wait to see what she does. Sign and say, "You want MORE" (sign at least what is capitalized). You can also substitute your child's proper or nickname instead of the word "you".
Play the game, pause and wait to see what she does. If she doesn't sign back, sign and say "MORE" again and play the game again. Repetition is the key to learning so as long as you are both having fun, continue play this little signing game!
Please share your signing games and stories with our WeeHands group! Visit www.weehands.com for more signing fun!
Last month Winnipeg, this month Edmonton!
In our continuation of the WeeHands North American Tour, I'll be heading to Edmonton this Thursday for the Edmonton Mom, Pop & Tots Fair. Drop by the WeeHands booth if you are an Edmonton mom or dad!
Often I'm asked "What is the optimal age to introduce signs to our baby?". I tell families I started signing with Joshua and Sabrina when they were 6 months...but now, knowing what I know, I would start much earlier...from birth.
Babies have the motor skills to sign back between 8 and 11 months, typically when first waves for "BYE-BYE" and the "PICK ME UP" gesture starts. So this is when productions or expression of signs can typically appear. But understanding or the ability to receive signs can occur much earlier.
Babies younger than 8 months may get excited about seeing the sign for "BATH" or "MILK". Often at trade shows and presentations, mom ask me not to sign "MILK" in my examples because their young babies understand the sign!
Joanne, WeeHands Instructor in Whitby, tells a story about her son, Richard, who disliked being laid down...but when Joanne would lay him down and sign "DIAPER CHANGE" he was okay with being laid down. Maybe he was understanding, "Ok, this lay down means "DIAPER CHANGE" not sleep time!"
I did get an email a few years ago from one mom I taught. Her daughter at 5 months was signing an approximation (B-shape hands, not S-shape or X-shape hands) of the sign for "CHANGE", after her diaper was dirty!
The area of a baby's brain that is responsible for understanding what is seen (occipital lobe) develops before the area of what is heard (temporal lobe). So young babies can understand what they see before they understand what they hear!
Sign early, sign often and make it fun & relevant for baby!
How exciting! Tot Trends Weekly Magazine has reviewed The Baby Signing Book and considers it a New Mom Necessity!
Super Cool Baby also lists The Baby Signing Book as a book that they definitely wish they had earlier in their parenting lives.
Our little book has also earned a Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award as a parenting product that has earned 2007 AWA TOP GOLD Star Status!
