Sign of the Week - TURKEY

Have you seen the holiday displays in the stores? There are TURKEYS on every aisle. Here is a sign that you can use to talk about the TURKEYS that you see around you this time of year. To sign TURKEY,  hold a "Q" hand under your chin and wiggle!

Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster:
TURKEY

Sign of the Week - UP and DOWN

The direction signs, UP and DOWN, can be used to add emphasis to what you are saying. You can also use these signs to play games with your baby like "hold the toy UP" or "hold it DOWN low." These signs can help non-verbal children take an active role in leading this game as well.


Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster:

Up & Down

October Newsletter

Learn some Halloween signs in our October Newsletter!

Sign of the Week - MOVIE

 

 Do you and your little one have a favorite MOVIE that you enjoy watching together? Join Dr. Acredolo for a webinar on children and media! Click here to register! 

Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster: 

MOVIE

Sign of the Week - WAIT

Teaching a child to WAIT is not an easy task! Using the sign along with the word can give a visual reminder and help the child learn to WAIT.

Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster:
WAIT

Sign of the Week - ZEBRA

Children love animals and ZEBRAS are no exception. ZEBRAS are easily identified because of their bold stripes. The sign for ZEBRA is easy for children to make so even nonverbal children can enjoy naming this interesting animal. 

Click on the word below to download the printable poster.

ZEBRA

Sign of the Week - FAMILY

This week we are highlighting the sign for FAMILY. Children love to talk about who is in their FAMILY. Although the sign, FAMILY, is a hard sign for babies to make, parents and teachers can use it to introduce the concept of  FAMILY.

Click on the word below to download the printable poster.
FAMILY

Sign of the Week - BUS

The Wheels on the BUS go round and round! Children will love using the sign for BUS to tell you that they see a school BUS, they want to sing about the BUS, or that they want to ride the BUS! Enjoy using this fun sign with your child!

 Bus Poster
Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster: Bus

Sign of the Week - VEGETABLES

Yummy VEGETABLES! This week's poster has been requested a lot over the last couple weeks. Help your child eat her VEGETABLES by giving her a way to ask for them!

 Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster:

 Vegetables

Sign Of The Week - ICE CREAM

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! But let's have them SIGN not scream! Enjoy the last month of summer with this fun sign that you will likely see all around you! 

Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster: Ice Cream

Sign of the Week - DUCK

Click here for PDF link

The Sign of the Week is DUCK.  Little ones love to use the DUCK sign with real ducks, toys in the bath and pictures in books.  Sign DUCK by making a bill with first two fingers and thumb. Place near mouth.  Open and close. 

Happy signing!

Exciting new On The Grow class - Baby Sitter Basics

The Babysitter Basics class is designed to give babysitters and nannies simple signs, fun activities and more. The class is geared toward babysitters/childcare providers 11 years and up. Participants will learn signs that will be helpful to them when babysitting and will be introduced to how the use of signs supports the development of children. Ideal for Babysitters and Nannies.

Sign of the Week - BEANS

Click on image for PDF

Use this sign at the market or grocery store!

Sign of the Week - FAST and SLOW

Children love describing words. Two of these words, FAST and SLOW, are not only fun words to sign, they are also fun concepts to identify. Look for things that are moving FAST or SLOW in your child's environment.

Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster:

Fast and Slow

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing you a very happy 4th of July! Sign FIREWORKS by holding up your fists palm out and flicking your fingers out with alternating hands, like FIREWORKS exploding!

See FIREWORKS signed here:  FIREWORKS

Sign of the Week - BOAT

BOAT

Whether you are at the ocean or in the bathtub, you can use this sign to talk about the BOATS your child sees. To sign BOAT, cup hands together and bob them forward as if in the water.  Add descriptive words/signs like big or little, tall or short, and colors to expand your child's vocabulary.

Click here for PDF link.

Sign of the Week - LION

LION

Are you planning a trip to the zoo? LIONS are always a favorite attraction. This sign will give your child a way to tell you she sees a LION. LIONS can also be seen in many children's books, videos, and in zoo-themed decorations. See if you can find a LION! Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster: Lion

The Three R's for Teaching Signs and Vocabulary to Children

Relevant:

Make signs/words you are teaching the child relevant to his or her daily life - does it help them express their wants and needs or is it something they are really interested in talking about?

Repetition:

Children need a lot of repetition to learn a new word, so try to use the 5 times rule – find ways to use the word 5 times in quick succession emphasizing the word. Look for and even make opportunities to practice the word throughout the day. 

Reinforcement: Praise the child's attempts even if it is not quite correct. With practice, repetition and modeling, they will improve over time, but if they become discouraged and don't try, they cannot improve. You learn by your mistakes! It is also important to reinforce the child's use of the signs by immediately following through with the action that the sign indicates if you can. If they sign MORE, give them more immediately so they understand the connection between the sign/word and getting more. If something works, then it increases the likelihood that it will occur again. If it doesn't seem to work, your baby will probably stop trying. Consistency is key.

Click here for PDF copy.

Sign of the Week - BIRD

As the weather warms, BIRDS start to return to our neighborhoods. Children will use the sign for BIRD to tell you when they see BIRDS or when they hear BIRDS. One mom even shared a story about her daughter signing BIRD on the swing, because the little girl felt like she was flying like a BIRD!

To sign BIRD,  use your thumb and index finger to make a "beak" at your mouth and open and close.

Click on the word below or on the poster image to download the printable poster:

 Bird

Sign of the Week - STRAWBERRY

It's beginning to feel like summer here, and STRAWBERRIES are the perfect summer fruit in my opinion! By themselves, in a salad or STRAWBERRY shortcake, what could be a better summer treat? So point them out to your little ones and show them this sign next time you go shopping for them in the grocery store or the roadside fruit stand.

To sign STRAWBERRY, hold tip of pinky finger and twist like removing a strawberry from the stem.

Click on the link to see and print the poster: https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/Strawberry.pdf

Happy signing!

Sign of the Week - SUN

Sunny days are coming! Use the sign for SUN to help your child talk about the SUN in the sky, in books, or even in his drawings!  To sign SUN draw a circle toward the sky with your index finger.  Then extend open fingers like rays of the sun. Don't forget to say the word as you sign it - SUN!

Click on the link below to see and print the poster:  https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/Sun.pdf

Sign of the Week - CAT

Children love animals. They like to see animals, touch animals, even pretend to be animals! A favorite animal of many children is the CAT. To sign CAT, simply trace 'whiskers' with thumb and forefinger. Teach your child the sign for CAT and see how many CATS your little one sees every day!

Click on the link below to see and print the poster!
https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/Cat.pdf

Sign Of The Week - BUG

As the weather gets warmer BUGS of all types begin to appear. This is the perfect sign for us here in the Coachella Valley as the ladybugs have been the talk of the playground this week!  You can find tons of them in the grass on the weeds with the little yellow flowers.  It reminds of when I was in 4th grade in Swaziland, Africa. Our teachers always had a nature table in the classroom where we brought in the interesting leaves, bugs, rocks, etc. to share.   One day a student brought in what we thought was some kind of cocoon.  It turned out to be an egg case, a praying mantis egg case!  For the next few weeks we had hundreds of tiny brown baby praying mantises crawling all over us while we worked!  I loved it!  To this day, praying mantises are my favorite insect!

Sign BUG by placing your thumb on your nose and bending your first two fingers up and down. The sign for BUG can be used to talk about all the insects you see. Don't forget to use descriptive words like big and little or color words to introduce more fun concepts!

Click on the link to see and print the poster https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/Bug.pdf

Easter Egg Hunt Signs

Going on an Easter egg hunt? Well it's a great opportunity to help your child learn signs and vocabulary for describing locations such as in, on and under! Using signs for prepositions can really help young children follow directions. So hide those eggs and sign and say where they were! Click on these words to see the signs.

Where? in , on, under, over1, over 2, beside, behind, basket, egg

Happy signing and hunting!

Sign Of The Week - BEAR

Whether visiting our friend BeeBo, the Baby Signs BEAR, or reading about a BEAR in a favorite story, the sign BEAR can be a fun animal sign to use. Does your baby have a teddy BEAR? This sign can be used to tell you when the special BEAR is missing or needed for comfort.

This is also a great sign to use with the "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?" book!  Click here to see the illustrator of this book read it on the Reading Is Fundamental website!

To sign BEAR, cross arms and make clawing motion at chest.

Click on the link to the poster to see and print the poster https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/bear.pdf

We're Going To Africa!

News from BeeBo:  This summer I am going on tour - to AFRICA!  Actually it's a missions trip, but I will be going along to sign and sing with the children, and do all I can!  I have never been on an airplane before, so I am a little scared!  But I am so excited about being able to help children in Swaziland with HOPEALIVE268.  And Lorraine is excited to be going back to Swaziland where she grew up - it's been over 30 years since she was last there!  That's WAY too long she says!  

Sign of the Week - RAINBOW

Click here to download poster

Rain brings RAINBOWS and RAINBOWS bring smiles. This sign will give your child a way to tell you when he sees a RAINBOW in the sky, in a book, or even in his own artwork! To sign RAINBOW, move open hand in an arc in front of face. Remember to say the word when you sign it!

Click on the link below to see and print the poster.
https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/rainbow.pdf

Use spice racks to display your child's favorite books!

Keep books out where your child can see them rather than hiding them away on a bookshelf!  Lovely way to display your children's favorite books and promote reading!  This tip thanks to the Rachael Ray Show.  

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/easy-tips-organize-your-childs-toys/

Sign Of The Week: I LOVE YOU

Click here to download poster

I LOVE YOU! These three words can be some of the sweetest words your child will say to you. Use this sign to help your little one "say" I LOVE YOU, before your child can say I LOVE YOU with spoken words.

Click the link below to see and print the poster.
https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/ILY.pdf

A Poem for Valentine's Day

I LOVE YOU POEM

Every FLOWER

LOVES a BEE

Every BIRD

LOVES a TREE

And I LOVE YOU!



Every ONE

LOVES a TWOEvery SOCK

LOVES a SHOEAnd I LOVE YOU!


Now try to make up some more verses of your own!

(Here's a handout you can print out so you can point to the pictures as you sign them.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sign of the Week - COLD

Is it COLD where you live? The Baby Signs "Sign of the Week" is COLD.   Now is a good time to teach the concept of COLD.

To sign COLD,  make fists at shoulder level and shiver. Remember to sign the word as you say the word~ COLD!

This is also the vocabulary word/sign we learn in the first class of the MORE  Sign, Say & Play classes! That's the class where we learn about signs for feelings - cold, sad, love, angry, afraid, and happy. Imagine the frustration that could be avoided if your child had a way to express these feelings!

Click the link below to see and print the poster:
https://www.babysigns.com/pdf/Cold.pdf

Happy signing!