If you can organize a group of 8-10 parents that are interested in teaching ASL to their babies I am happy to come to your home. Please contact me for more information.


Classroom Feedback

"I took a signing class at Britannia about a year ago, my son Liam was 2.5 months. I just wanted to let you know that he is now signing about 20 signs and my consistency with doing the signs has finally paid off. I am so grateful for your guidance and energy in that class, I took another class after, closer to my home but your class was so much more appropriate in accommodating little ones. I even still sing the songs you taught in that class! It is so exciting to see him sign, he is so much less frustrated because he can now express himself. "He has even made up his own signs for things, like cat and more. So thank you for your wonderful teaching ability, I learned so much and have continued to apply what I learned more than a year later."

- Jennifer and Liam

* * * * * * * *

"Thank you so much for a wonderful signing experience. It's too bad that we didn't get to take another signing class with you due to the strike. We are in the process of moving back to Norway and will leave in about 5 weeks. I just wanted to tell you that Sean is finally signing. It happened when he was about 13 months ie 2 months ago....just as you said. I was getting a little discouraged, but you were right, something clicks at about 13 months. He signs: dog, cat, please, milk, more, walk. It's wonderful to be able to understand him through his signing. "I've recommended you to several people in my network here in Vancouver. I've said, 'Go to Barb at Roundhouse........' I'm just so glad I took your class."

- Sean Kristoffer and Vivian (Wong)


ASL for Babies: Level I
by Barbara Desmarais
e-Book, $12.50 USD

ASL for babies

** As featured on CTV British Columbia! Read the article, or watch the video **


We're learning to sign!

Did you know that babies as young as 8 months old can start to communicate using Sign Language? Using American Sign Language babies can learn to communicate many of their basic needs and consequently feel less frustrated. Research has indicated that apart from learning a way to communicate before they know verbal language, signing with babies enriches the parent-child bond, increases interest in books and enhances verbal language development.

My deaf step-sons who were diagnosed at 16 months old were exposed to Sign Language immediately and by the age of 2 were conversing in full sentences. Our hearing children both used Sign Language to communicate before they could talk. We have our daughter Claire on video signing "more", asking for more cake on her 1st birthday. Our son Marc used to sign "milk" every time he wanted his bottle. There were many times when having a sign to communicate what they wanted, we avoided a lot of tears.

Baby Sign classes run for 8 weeks and are 1 hour long. Apart from signs, songs and finger plays that you can share with your baby are incorporated into the class. The atmosphere is fun and informal and is a wonderful way to meet other parents who are also interested in teaching their baby to sign.


Book Recommendation:

The Complete Guide to
Baby Sign Language

At a very young age, children are like sponges, absorbing everything they see and do, learning at an unprecedented rate. This ability to learn so quickly is what allows them to start speaking in as little as two years and to pick up so many of your mannerisms in infancy. Sign language is the most recent discovery for infants and is a very popular way of working their brains and teaching them not only an early form of communication but the third most spoken language in the United States. For those parents that teach their baby sign language at a young age and continue into childhood, it is possible for their child to learn quicker in school and likely to be bi- or even tri-lingual before reaching High School.

The Complete Guide to Baby Sign Language will guide every parent through the process of teaching an infant the necessary steps to understand beginning sign language. You will learn first and foremost what you are going to need to expect from signing, from the basics of the program to the reactions you will get from your baby. You will learn how to get started by teaching yourself first and foremost and what the first signs you should focus on for your child are and when it is okay to start teaching. You will be given a complete troubleshooting section with common problems you may encounter to help you when things don't go according to plan. You will also be given details on how to instruct and teach babysitters and nannies to use the same sign language while teaching your child.

Sign language experts, both for adults and children, have been interviewed and have provided their insight into how signing can change the interactions between you and your child. Learn how to develop signs as your child gets older and more cognitive and how to combine signs into longer communications and even sentences well before they can speak. You will also learn how to start taming tantrums even before your child is a year old with sign language and how to carry on your signs into older childhood, teaching your child full American Sign Language and then branching out to additional options. For any new parent looking to get a jump start on teaching their baby, sign language is not only a great way to boost their intellect, it can help make your life much easier.

Click here to order


Here are some other great online resources:

www.cbc.ca/news/background/babysign/

www.Sign2me.com

www.signingstore.ca

Signing Time! Are premier videos that teach hearing babies and toddlers basic signs in ASL. Entertaining and educational at the same time.


Conrad signing "more"


Liam signing "mouse"

 

Holden signs "bed"
Tyson signs "I Love You"

 

Maya signs "more"
Pearce signs "juice"

 


Liam signing "run"

Copyright © 2004 - Barbara Desmarais