A couple of weeks ago I shared a video showing Ez’s first intentional sign – MILK. For several weeks he was only using this sign when nursing or just prior to nursing. In the past week, he has started to use the sign to also mean Mom, anything in a cup and when offered other types of food. It is really interesting to see how he has already started to realize that he can use his hands to express himself. In addition to MILK, he is also signing a variation of BED and responds appropriately to MORE and ALL DONE.
Knowing that Ez is profoundly Deaf, yet is already responding to and producing language, demonstrates how important early exposure to sign language can be for infants. He is very attentive to hands and watching other people sign at him. He is still babbling but these signs are intentional and are used regularly and in the appropriate context.
Did you use baby signs with your child? What was the first sign they produced? What was the first word they spoke?
I love this!! I have been signing with Liam since he was born (obviously not as much as what happens in your house!) but I sign as much as I can with him. Especially when we read with the animal names ect. But he doesn’t seem to be producing the signs. He will sign “finish” when he’s done brushing his teeth and sometimes when he’s done eating. And he used to sign “more” when he ate and on one occation signed it perfectly when he wanted more crackers at the doctors office! But hasn’t really signed much since. He watches me when I sign to him but just will not produce it, he’s going on 16 months old and I figured he would have more of a signing vocab already…oh and he loves to watch Signing Time (but I don’t like to always have the tv on!). Any words of wisdom?? 🙂
I think you just have to keep at it. Some kids take it all in visually but don’t produce the signs. How many signs do you think he can recognize?
I know he knows mommy, daddy, (he knew that early. I would sign without speaking where’s Daddy? And he would look for my husband!), all done/finish, more, and he just started signing please. He will sign it on my chest if i’m holding him! I think he understands no as well.
That is amazing! My daughter is not deaf, but I want to teach her ASL, I’ve already started incorporating small signs (Mom, Dad, all done, more, grandma, grandpa, milk, etc) into daily life. I think it’s important even though nobody in our family is HOH or deaf because I work in a pharmacy and with the remedial ASL that I know, I am able to communicate with the 2 deaf patients that come in to shop. Most of the time employees talk to their caregivers (even though they are functioning adults), but I’m able to speak to them. When I say “hello, how are you?” their eyes light up. When they can sign their name and DOB to me and I understand, I can see the emotion. Not a lot of people around here sign and I think more should. I’d like to start with my daughter.
I only used a couple with my older son Liam. We did milk, more, thank you, and water. He really only used milk and more. My younger son Logan is two months and I just started using the sign for milk with him. Is it to early or am I on the right track?