Stumbled across this article in a science blog about an academic study done about signing in different settings:

Some studies about baby sign language have been quite informal, with parents and caregivers inventing makeshift signs to “talk” to their babies about bodily functions, favorite toys, desires for comfort, and so on. Other studies have focused exclusively on laboratory settings, with little follow-up to see if the signs acquired in the lab have any practical use.

A team led by Rachel Thompson has now combined these two approaches to explore whether formal laboratory training can have a positive impact on real babies’ lives — and their parents and caregivers.

Read more here …

Salt Lake City, UT July 10, 2008 — Two Little Hands Productions – creators of the popular Signing Time DVD series and hit public television show designed to teach babies, toddlers and young children to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) – is pleased to announce the release of two new DVDs completing Series Two of the Signing Time DVD series.

We are excited to release these two DVDs making our Series Two collection complete. Once Upon a Time and Box of Crayons along with the rest of Series Two are designed to keep children learning and exploring the wonderful world of sign language.

(more…)

I was chilling out today, watching an episode of Runway Moms on Discovery Health Channel and was so thrilled that they featured a beautiful expecting model who was deaf, and not only that, but there was a short segment showing her learning how to run baby signing classes! She can read lips and can speak clearly but she also uses American Sign Language – both in the classes as well as at home, and it showed her and her husband signing together.
Hillary is a NYC resident and was working with Lora Heller, who runs the My Baby Fingers classes and has several really cute board books and other books out. Some of these books are brand new and currently carried in our store. It was really fantastic to see this show and enjoy how signing has come into more and more media. I hope that this show and many more in the future bring signing to parents who didn’t know much about signing with babies.

This particular episode will be on several more times this summer (all times are eastern and pacific):

• JUL 11 2006 @ 08:00 AM
• JUL 11 2006 @ 02:00 PM
• JUL 15 2006 @ 09:00 AM
• JUL 18 2006 @ 04:00 PM

Here is more information about Hillary from the My Baby Fingers website:

Hillary Baack, BA, is a deaf actress who recently made her NYC stage debut in her one woman show BIRTH STORY. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a double major in Theatre and English, and has studied with DeafWest Theatre in Los Angeles. Hillary works as a staff sign language interpreter at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she also also teaches ASL workshops. She has taught ASL throughout the city for two years and previously taught English and ASL to deaf children in Barcelona, Spain. On part time maternity leave with her baby Finley, Hillary is offering our ASL tutoring program for school age children, and has begun teaching in our UWS mommy & me classes.

And here is more about Lora Heller from her website:

Lora Heller, MS, MT-BC, LCAT, Founding Director is a Board Certified and Licensed Music Therapist with a Master of Science in Special Education/Deaf Education, and mommy to Zeke and Sian. Lora has worked extensively with babies and children of all ages, both typically developing and those with special needs. Growing up in Rochester, NY, Lora first learned sign language as a summer camp counselor so she could better communicate with a young Deaf camper. Through her bachelor’s thesis–a study of music in Deaf culture–Lora wrote, directed, and produced a musical play performed simultaneously in English (by hearing college students) and in ASL (by members of the local Deaf community). Her graduate thesis involved a pilot program teaching sign language through music to parents and their children ages 3 months through three years. While practicing music therapy in Rochester, Lora also performed in professional theater (her favorite role was Cinderella) and directed an inter-city youth theater company. In New York City, Lora has provided music therapy, music classes, educational enrichment, drama workshops, and parent/child sign language classes in such places as St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, St. Luke’s Hospital Division of Child Psychiatry & Roosevelt Hospital Preschool, The New York School for the Deaf, and the 92nd Street Y. Lora is a certified Sign with Your Baby presenter; she is a board member for NYCCAT (New York Coalition for Creative Arts Therapists) and a member of AMTA (American Music Therapy Association).

If you know of any more mentions of signing with babies in feature films, television programs or print media, please let me know!

May 31, 2006

This morning on NPR there was a story about signing with babies:

Parents of pre-verbal toddlers are finding a new communication tool: Sign language. With some studies showing improved literacy as a result, teaching babies and toddlers how to sign has become a growth industry.

Click here for the link (and click on “Listen” to hear the broadcast).

One of the interesting points brought up (near the end of the segment) was the fact that signing with babies isn’t readily available to low-income families simply because classes are generally so expensive. And when you think about it, it’s true – many classes are well over $100.

However, you also need to consider the fact that this website exists and you really can learn all you need to know about signing with your baby without paying a cent. Classes are a lot of fun and informational but they are absolutely not necessary for your signing success – I should know, because I signed with two of my children without ever taking a single class.

I got this lovely message this morning, in fact, and it really made me feel like I was providing a great service.

• I have been toying with the idea to start sign language with my 7 mth old baby. Thanks for providing the basic guidelines and resources for me to get started without investing $$ in books/ resources.

So yes, classes are great. You get to meet other signing parents and learn signs from a real live person, who can show you activities and songs and answer your questions. But if you haven’t the spare change to invest in a class, rest assured that I am trying very hard to bring information to this site to teach you the basics on how to get started signing with your baby.
Happy signing!

In searching the web for interesting tidbits about baby sign language, I have repeatedly come across advertisements or information for Baby First TV.

BabyFirstTV is the first cable and satellite channel in the U.S. dedicated to providing innovative programming designed to inspire baby’s learning in a delightful and engaging way. Supported by leading child development experts, our network is tailored to meet the needs of babies up to three years of age in a safe and inspiring commercial-free learning environment. Our programming features original new content including “Rainbow Horse,” “Sandman,” and “I Can Sign” to name a few, as well as new tools that help parents better understand the developmental benefits for their baby with each of the programs. BabyFirstTV transforms traditional TV into an educational tool that provides a positive learning environment and an engaging experience for both parents and baby.

One of the programs featured on this “all baby, all the time” network is called “I Can Sign.” I’d be very interested in hearing reviews from anyone who has subscribed to this network, particularly about the signing show. You can leave a comment on this post or email me at monica@signingbaby.com.

I am going to be doing a lot of internet searching for really cool news items to direct your attention to, and when I find something that you can actually participate in, all the better.

I’d like to direct your attention to Colorado State University, where I found the following:

Baby Sign Research

Jessica Egan, graduate student in the Foreign Languages and Literatures and English departments, is currently working on her Master’s thesis on the effects that infant sign language may have on vocabulary development and general infant development.

If you are currently teaching your child Baby Signs (or any form of sign language) and are interested in being a part of this study, please contact her via e-mail at faerydaisy@hotmail.com or by phone at (970) 215-5336.

Please read more about this on the website – Colorado State University. Of course, it is your responsibility to investigate this offering before participating!