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Share your signing stories

From the lens American Sign Language (ASL) For Everyone.

  • biznardi May 9, 2012 @ 11:10 am | delete
    I feel that teaching your child how to sign is a great idea. Love the lens.
  • AngryBaker May 8, 2012 @ 6:32 pm | delete
    Love this.. .my youngest was taught some ASL in pre-school, and she stuck with it for quite a while. Wish I'd been more proactive in helping her stick with it...
  • KathyMcGraw May 8, 2012 @ 2:29 am | delete
    I learned a lot, and how cute your daughter got to sign songs for Videos. I never even thought of teaching a child sign language as a baby, so this was interesting. Does she still sign?
  • Christene May 8, 2012 @ 2:54 am | delete
    We do still use signs once in a while. When she's in her gymnastics class I can sign "try" or "pay attention" or "be careful" without embarrassing her haha. Other signs we use often are yes, no, bathroom, and I love you. (Lexi turns 11 this summer!)
  • KathyMcGraw May 8, 2012 @ 10:48 am | delete
    Thanks Christene :)
  • TopToysForKids Nov 28, 2011 @ 3:11 am | delete
    My sister actually went to school and got a degree in ASL with a twist; it was for Spanish. She can translate English to Spanish or vice-versa by signing. Excellent lens. Thanks.
  • Joie Oct 19, 2011 @ 4:19 am | delete
    My daughter was about three when I showed her the few signs I knew. (That's when we started home schooling.) She learned other signs along the way to adulthood through educational television programs. While she was in high school (still home schooled), she took four semesters of ASL. After MY teaching HER from K-12, she began to teach ME - American Sign Language. Now we are both interpreters. Teaching your kids to sign can be so rewarding! :)
  • bhthanks Sep 10, 2011 @ 10:32 pm | delete
    signing sounds like a great option for communicating with babies
  • Spook Jun 15, 2011 @ 2:06 pm | delete
    Just popping by again, this time without controversy to say well done.
  • grannysage May 28, 2011 @ 1:32 pm | delete
    I wish I had known about baby signing when my kids were born, Just thinking how frustrated they must get when they can't communicate their needs. It is amazing how much they can say with signing. I enjoyed watching Marley Maitlin on Celebrity Apprentice. She has definitely been a role model for learning to sign.
  • UKGhostwriter Apr 17, 2011 @ 5:53 pm | delete
    Great resource! my daughter uses Makaton, it seems to be the standard for special needs children in the UK
  • thrivingmom Apr 3, 2011 @ 8:40 pm | delete
    I taught all 3 of my kids sign language starting at around 5 months old. I started learning sign language at church around 7 years old and have always been interested in it. I love the Signing Time series. It's entertaining and very educational. I learned new signs right along with my babies by watching the videos with them. *~blessed~*
  • Greekgeek Feb 14, 2011 @ 5:07 pm | delete
    I SquidLiked this lens years ago, and enjoyed visiting again with a little Angel pixie dust!
  • JeremiahStanghini Feb 4, 2011 @ 4:48 am | delete
    I'm looking forward to learning ASL at some point.

    With Love and Gratitude,

    Jeremiah
  • genglo Jan 16, 2011 @ 8:08 pm | delete
    returning to bless this lens.
  • aslterp7 Nov 14, 2010 @ 8:00 pm | delete
    Great lens, keep it up.

    I have been signing all my life since I am a CODA and my daughters are Deaf... check me out at dcastle.com or squidoo.com/asldan or squidoo.com/solardan or dansolar.wordpress.com.
  • Brookelorren Oct 2, 2010 @ 10:50 pm | delete
    My kids learned signing and they had very few tantrums. My daughter learned baby signs; we did Signing time with ds. Dd is now taking a sign language class at our church.
  • NarrowPathPublishing Sep 21, 2010 @ 4:42 pm | delete
    Awesome lens! When I taught autistic children I used some signs with them. One child imitated every sign I made, and one of my favorite moments was when we went on a field trip and the assistants went into Burger King to get food for the kids. He tapped me on the osulder and made the sign for "eat".
  • eclecticeducation Sep 17, 2010 @ 7:26 pm | delete
    My little guy was in an early intervention program because he had muscular torticollis. While in the program they taught them how to do a few signs, which he didn't need since he was completely verbal. It was funny, though, because he quickly figured out he could stuff his mouth full of food and "sign" the word for "more". lol!!! Great lens! Blessed by an Angel.
  • Jul 23, 2009 @ 7:05 pm | delete
    A beautiful thing you did. My daughter was born with complications and suffered hearing loss from birth to age 6. Her hearing was miraculously restored at age 6 but we did some signing. Mostly she lip read, so well in fact that not I or the doctor knew she wasn't hearing until she was 3yrs old. Now the tables are turned, I can hear fine but my injury messed up my vocals and so I sign when my voice goes out. Always looking to learn more! What a wonderful idea for any child to know. This has encouraged me to go back and refresh my child's sign vocabulary.
  • curious0927 Jul 2, 2009 @ 3:39 pm | delete
    I have 2 ADHD children. The first thing they taught them in Resource at school was sign language as it helped them read, spell and comprehend. A tool we should all look into. Great information.
  • BunnyFabulous Jun 26, 2009 @ 1:04 pm | delete
    I started teaching ASL to my daughter when she was 8 months old thru the Baby Signing Time videos, and it's been immensely helpful in our communication. Your lens is very thorough, helpful and fun. So fun that your daughter got to be on Signing Time and meet Rachel, Leah and Alex. :) I'm lensrolling it to my lens about Baby Signing Time.
  • ChineseKitesforKids Jun 22, 2009 @ 9:29 pm | delete
    Terrific lens. Very informative. My baby's first sign was "more" but he's two now and he signs the entire alphabet, all his colors, his numbers 1 - 10, fruits, veggies, animals and people. He's really good. I've been working with him since he was 6 months old. It really works. Lens rolling this to:
    Teaching Your Children Sign Language
    Sign Language Alphabet
  • KimGiancaterino Jun 18, 2009 @ 12:47 pm | delete
    Re-blessing... This lens is featured on A Day of 100 Squid Angel Blessings.
  • Wysiwigs May 15, 2009 @ 9:46 am | delete
    Lovely lens ~ I'm lensrolling you to my Momography: Parenting a Deaf Child lens. Very nicely done :o)
  • BigGirlBlue May 2, 2009 @ 1:53 pm | delete
    A friend and I learned some basics growing up. I've always found it interesting. Congratulations on the purple star.
  • enslavedbyfaeries Apr 10, 2009 @ 8:00 pm | delete
    I have heard of teaching babies sign language, but never considered how practical it would be on an everyday basis. Thanks for sharing your experiences with ASL. It was very enlightening to learn more about it. That's very cool that your daughter got to be on the show too!! :)
  • OhMe Apr 8, 2009 @ 6:46 am | delete
    Oh me! I love this lens. I have always been fascinated with sign language, too! I used to work with Adult Developmentally Disabled and we taught them very basic signs which made communicating much more enjoyable. I catch myself wanting to sign to get people's attention and then realize that they wouldn't understand. It is so beautiful and so is this lens.
  • blakesdad Mar 29, 2009 @ 3:29 pm | delete
    Useful, practical and informative. Five stars!
  • charlino Feb 20, 2009 @ 2:55 pm | delete
    This is wonderful.
  • DebtSolutions22 Feb 3, 2009 @ 7:21 pm | delete
    I love this lens. My son started signing when he was about 12 months. I would definitely teach the rest of my children ASL as it definitely helps out with communication. Great information and thanks for sharing your personal experience.
  • Susan52 Dec 30, 2008 @ 7:17 pm | delete
    How wonderful to share something special like this with your daughter. I hope you keep the lens updated as she grows, to let us know how she applies ASL in her life. Wonderful lens!
  • Treasures-By-Brenda Nov 5, 2008 @ 8:07 am | delete
    A beautiful lens with a lot of helpful resources! Great job!

    Brenda
  • Nov 2, 2008 @ 11:52 am | delete
    Cool lens. I've heard about the baby signs before, but actually using ASL is a really cool idea. Then your kid and you be come bilingual. Thank you!
  • PattB Oct 30, 2008 @ 4:27 pm | delete
    Great lens, Christene. My grandmother who lived with our family was deaf. She read lips pretty well, however, and the only sign language that was used was what we make up to get our point across, before giving up and writing her a note. How much simpler it would have been if we all had known sign language. I tried taking some classes later in life, but unfortunately didn't keep up with it. I've often thought of how useful it would be for divers, loud concerts and restaurants. Thanks for your promotion of teaching it to babies! 5 stars!
  • icjackson Oct 28, 2008 @ 11:52 pm | delete
    Your daughter got to be on Signing Time? That is so AWESOME!

    I just featured this lens here:

    Teach Yourself American Sign Language - Basic Sign Language Studies Online

    5 stars for a GREAT lens!
  • chefkeem Oct 26, 2008 @ 10:40 pm | delete
    Blessed by a Booster Angel!
  • spirituality Oct 10, 2008 @ 4:54 am | delete
    I think using sign with young children is a genius idea. Thanks for sharing your experience with it with us.
  • bygproductions Oct 7, 2008 @ 12:22 am | delete
    I taught my girls some ASL, when they were older. I wish I'd know about it when they were infants, would have saved a lot of whining and guessing. Thank you for doing this lens. I hope others will follow your lead and teach it to their infants.
  • john_smith Sep 12, 2008 @ 7:44 am | delete
    Fanstatic work Dear. Remember me feel my Childhood.
  • Rya Aug 26, 2008 @ 6:59 pm | delete
    Great lens--i worked with a deaf student on writing tutoring once and learned a lot about asl and the deaf comunity doing it--it was very rewarding. Thanks for getting the word out about this wonderful language. thanks also for your blessing on my parrot lens :)
  • Evelyn_Saenz Aug 23, 2008 @ 5:17 pm | delete
    5 Stars and Favored!

    Chester Raccoon has been learning sign language and was delighted to find your lens.
  • vbright105 Jul 23, 2008 @ 2:48 am | delete
    nice lens! I am deaf, although oddly enough, I am not yet teaching my grand kids. I can speak, and read lips, so for right now, that works
  • Christene May 12, 2008 @ 12:11 pm | delete
    Hi Spook
    Thanks for your post. :) I was going to send you an email but you don't have your "contact me" function turned on. You can email me if you'd like.
  • Spook May 12, 2008 @ 11:35 am | delete
    Dear Christene,
    I have just browsed through your lens and it gives me a much better idea of what you were trying,very nicely to explain when you answered my question in the forum.So I am going to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely.
    Having said that being deaf myself,I was suprised to find that there where so many people interested
    this is a bit of a shock to me.Although I've been deaf for 36 years now,have only ever met one deaf person before.I would like it if you could contact me as I have more to say but this is not the right place.Congratulations on a well presnted,relevant lens.Wish you luck.
    Cheers,
    Spook
  • SemperFidelis Apr 2, 2008 @ 8:09 am | delete
    Excellent work Christene. Certainly a Squid Angel Blessing worthy lens! My oldest, Cassandra, who just turned 18, is finishing her 2-year degree in a few months. She's been accepted into Washington State University for their education program and will be getting her teaching credentials through WSU starting this fall. Cassandra wants to work with the deaf and mute and has been taking sign language classes regularly. Funny thing is she has been teaching my youngest, Carly, 2 years old, sign language. They are starting to communicated via sign. I better get on the ball on this one! lol
  • adez7 Apr 2, 2008 @ 1:53 am | delete
    Rarely do I promote the same lens twice, but this one is worthy of that honor. Christene you have gone over the top with this one. I love it.
  • adez7 Jan 14, 2008 @ 3:02 pm | delete
    Hi Christine, I love this lens. All my children were taught to sign at a very young age and they loved it. 5*'s from me for a job well done.
  • Joie Jan 14, 2008 @ 1:18 am | delete
    Christene, your beautiful lens really touched my heart!
    I started home-schooling my daughter at age 3, showing her the few signs I knew. She just couldn't get enough! Sesame Street signing fascinated her. We learned more from a PBS series, "Say It With Sign." Wherever she could learn more, she did. During high school she took four semesters of ASL college classes.
    After graduation, she continued her education with an ASL Bible class. She became a sign language instructor herself, and is currently working as a professional interpreter for deaf college students.
    Coming full circle, my precious daughter (whom I home-schooled for 12 years) became MY teacher. She taught me to sign, and I am eternally grateful to her for the gift of such a beautiful language. I now have the privilege of teaching others & serving as an ASL interpreter. Together we now share in distributing a brand-new Bible on DVD in ASL free to all.
    Keep up the good work, Christene! You will reap unimagined blessings!
  • Christene Jan 13, 2008 @ 11:50 pm | delete
    Thank you LaraineRose :)
    I added it to my Sign Language Links module.
  • LaraineRose Jan 13, 2008 @ 10:54 pm | delete
    Dear Christine, What a wonderful gift you have shared with your daughter! I am a hearing person but have always taken a great interest in languages. I started learning ASL 1 1/2 years ago. I am currently passing this great gift on to a small class of my own. There is a great Internet Site called "ASL-Pro". This is set up as an ASL dictionary where you will find a Baby-words ASL Dictionary too. You might want to add this to your lens. Just a suggestion. I'm giving you 5 stars. (Your daughter is adorable!)
  • lizthefair Nov 11, 2007 @ 3:55 pm | delete
    What a great Lens! I learned basic ASL in high school, but don't use it much now--and thus have forgotten a lot.
  • willbucks Oct 29, 2007 @ 9:55 am | delete
    Awesome lense. Both of my parents are deaf. ASL is my first language.

    Of course the only signing I taught was ASL to my son who is now 3 1/2. Which naturally led me to teaching it to the day care center etc.
  • Clutterbugs Sep 21, 2007 @ 11:58 pm | delete
    What you did w/your daughter is fantastic! You never know when it will be of help to someone it makes you appreciate those with disabilities. I learned ESL in college, but it would have been nice to know from a younger age! Stop by my lens sometime - Organize YHB. Cheers!
  • Karen Putz Aug 29, 2007 @ 10:58 am | delete
    Nice lens! :)
  • sdtechteacher Jul 30, 2007 @ 3:27 am | delete
    What a great lens. I know so many people who had peaceful homes because they could communicate with their babies. 5 stars.

    sdtechteacher
    http://www.squidoo.com/sandiegokids
    http://www.squidoo.com/macforteachers
  • FESA Jul 30, 2007 @ 2:53 am | delete
    Wow, another great lens! This is such interesting and vital information. I did some signing with my children when they were young and found it most helpful. You are one of my all-time favourite lensmasters (I have a few). Keep up the wonderful work Christene! Fran
  • Enchanted_Ways Jul 27, 2007 @ 10:32 pm | delete
    Great lens! So much information!
  • KimGiancaterino Jul 26, 2007 @ 12:52 pm | delete
    What a great story. I have friends who used baby signs, and like you say, they outgrow those. I wish they taught ASL in public schools.
  • KimberlyDawnWells Jun 15, 2007 @ 8:22 am | delete
    Wow, fabulous job! Thanks for being a part of the Success with Squidoo MySpace Group. Keep up the awesome work.
  • rms Jun 4, 2007 @ 1:43 pm | delete
    Very interesting lens. My children are grown but I will pass this along to others who may want to try this.
  • mommaf8 May 7, 2007 @ 3:42 pm | delete
    Just wanted to tell you I admire what you've done here. I used a little bit of sign language with my children when they were little
  • daoine May 4, 2007 @ 12:13 am | delete
    I've been fascinated with this concept since my friend tried signing with her baby. I think it's a great idea.
  • WAHMama Apr 10, 2007 @ 5:53 pm | delete
    we thought of signing with our son, but just never did enough study to impliment it, and we only knew about baby sign books. I love the idea of using ASL with babies because it's truly a useful life skill!
  • gp1628 Apr 2, 2007 @ 1:50 pm | delete
    Interestingly since signs are visually based more than spelling based (flower looks like a flower instead of doing the english spelling of flower) it can amount to being an international language which your child might fall back on in a bad situation overseas. Im daycare for my handicapped son.
  • JayShaffstall Mar 28, 2007 @ 8:46 am | delete
    Our daughter of 21 months uses signs very well for communicating. The most exciting part is that we taught her only about half the signs she uses...the rest she created once she realized she could communicate using signs!
  • webseitler Mar 24, 2007 @ 10:23 pm | delete
    We love to use baby signs. Our favorite is to teach our kids to say "please" instead of "grunt, grunt, whine" when they are hungry. ;) It's more like a word for "FEED ME!" LOL!
  • KCStargazer Mar 22, 2007 @ 11:52 pm | delete
    Very useful! Thanks for the great lens. Welcome to the Kaleidoscope Group!
  • rogercarr Mar 17, 2007 @ 7:18 pm | delete
    I only found out recently about the ability and benefits of teaching your baby sign language. We have a friend who has a baby who signs many words but is too young to talk! It was hard to believe. This is a great lens on the topic.

by

Christene

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