As we promised at the NDSC Convention during presentation #73 Jumpstart Your Child's Speech and Language Engine Using Sign Language, we will be sharing some of the extra information that was not included in the slides on this blog. Today we will start with some of the basic hand shapes for ASL.  

Stay tuned for the next post were we will share some of best signs for parents to start with. 

I have heard this question a few times in the last couple days of the big Signing Time sale.  Signing Time has so many products, if I just want to start with one, which one should I start with?

The answer is simple, if you have a baby, start with any one of the Baby Signing Time DVD's, books or flashcard sets.  There is a listing of what signs each video teaches on the
Baby Signing Time Progress Chart. 
Go thru the list and pick the video that teaches signs that you feel will help your child communicate where he or she is right now. 

If you have an older child (we did not start with our son until he was 18 months)  you can start with Signing Time series one or two.   Again, just look at the signs taught in each of the videos and choose the one that best matches the goals you are currently working on. 
Signing Time Series One Progress Chart
Signing Time Series Two Progress Chart
But don't rule out Baby Signing Time yet.  My son was 4 when he first started regularly watching Baby Signing Time and they are still some of his favorites.  Why?  Because he LOVES babies.  Really who doesn't?  They are so cute!  Plus they teach some of the same signs as the Signing Time Series in a different way, which helps kids generalize. 

We started our journey with Series 1 Volume 3 Every Day Signs.  After 3 weeks of watching this video every day while I got ready for work, my son showed us his first sign (cookie).  That is when I knew it was time to get another DVD.  Luckily Christmas was around the corner and I looked at the progress chart and asked relatives who were going to be buying him gifts anyway, to get him a specific DVDs.  I did the same for his Birthday.   It took a couple years to get the whole set. 

It all just depends on your child and your situation.  For instance, I have 3 boys and they LOVE sports.  So we got the Series 2 DVD My Favorite Sports pretty early, but we waited until just before he started Preschool to get the Series 1 Welcome to School DVD. 

But one thing is for sure, all the Signing Time products and DVD's are fabulous, so you can't really go wrong with any of them.  But if you really want to see them before you commit, you may want to consider getting a digital subscription to Signing Time.  For just $1 for the first month you can access the
ENTIRE SIGNING TIME COLLECTION
for 30 days with the coupon code allfor1.    You can watch on your computer, Apple or Android devices.  If you continue your subscription, it is just 9.99 a month after that.  You can cancel anytime.  So for a dollar you can preview and watch all the DVD's to find your favorites and I bet you won't be able to choose just one. 

• Our best sale of the year is just a few days away on SUNDAY and MONDAY, June 29-30

Sale details will be revealed on Sunday morning. 
You won't want to miss this! 
Save big on all 4 Brands.

Watch for more details on Sunday June 29.

Ready for some new Signing Time DVDs?  Now is a great time to pick some up.  Save on 4 different bundles for the next 48 hours.  Click here to start shopping now. 

One of the questions I get all the time is, "Why would I want to teach my baby (child) to use sign language?"

The answer is simple.

Sign Language can help a child communicate before their bodies are physically capable of speech.  

Babies as young as 6 months old can learn to sign.

In fact most children begin communicating with sign language.  They wave hi and bye, point to things and put their hands up when they want to be held. 

Babies know what they want and teaching them sign language as way to communicate can:

                  Reduce frustration
                  Increase the parent/child bond
                  Increase vocabulary and IQ
                  Develop fine motor skill
                  Help build receptive language                                                      
                  Be a fun way to learn!

Based on all these benefits, why wouldn't you want to teach your child to sign?

Signing Time just introduced a new digital subscription service where you can access the whole Signing Time Collection - Baby Signing Time, Signing Time, Potty Time and Rachael and The Treeschoolers for one low monthly or annual price.  You can access the complete digital library on your computer, tablet, or phone. It works like Netfix or Hulu, only better, because you can download videos and watch them even if you're not online.

Our son loves to watch videos on the iPad in the car, when traveling, or even while shopping, so for us the digital versions are great. He is 5 and can easily operate the app to watch what he wants.  I also don't have to worry about DVD's getting scratched or misplaced which is awesome. 

Subscriptions are regularly $14.99 per month and $149.99 per year.  But, there are introductory coupon codes that reduce these prices to just $9.99 per month and $99.99 per year. Use the code allaccess1 for the monthly discount or allaccess12 for an annual discount. 

So for just $10 you can instantly have access to the entire Signing Time collection for a whole month. It is a great price if you just want to try it out, and could make a great last minute Holiday gift.   Here are links to shop for the monthly or annual all access digital plans.  These are limited time coupon codes, so don't delay, sign up today!

In my opinion this is the best of all the Holiday specials that will be going on over the next few days at Signing Time.  Save 40% on all orders over $40.   Today is a great day to pick up DVD's, books and flashcards.    Or if you are an educator, and have been looking at the Preschool Program or the Classroom edition today is the day to buy.   Start Shopping now.  The sale ends tonight!

A common misconception about teaching sign language to hearing children,  is that there is a "magic window" from 6 months to about 18 months where parents can sign with their baby.    In reality there is no magic window.  Hearing individuals can benefit from using sign through- out their lifetimes:
-Babies use ASL for communication
-Toddlers use it for vocabulary
-Preschoolers use it for early reading skills
-Early elementary children use it for sight words and spelling words
-Older elementary children use it for whole body learning and cross brain growth
-Tweens, teens, and adults use it as a second language.

Research on the subject shows that in the realm of cognitive development, it seems that children who learn sign have larger vocabularies than those who don't, and retain superior language skills even after they stop signing. A recent study compared “groups of children who were exposed to sign for a single school year” with groups who were taught a similar curriculum without the use of sign language . The researchers found that those children whose education had included sign developed better vocabulary skills during the year they were signing, and that they retained a larger vocabulary in the following year. At the end of the multiple-year study, the researchers found that “the more varied ways a child is exposed to language, the more retention and learning of that language will take place” (Robertson, 2007).

So to answer the question "When should I start signing with my baby?"  4-6 months is a great time to start, and if you have an older child, why not start today? 

Signing Time is a fun and easy way for busy parents to teach their child to sign.  Click HERE to check out the full line up of Signing Time products.

This awesome video shows Signing Time in action.  This little girl is not quite 15 months old and already has 100 signs.  Way to go Ellie!