Just in case you missed it, there are several articles on the web talking about the benefits of using sign language with your babies. We have also put together additional research about the benefits of using sign language with babies.

On our research page, we have included several resources that discuss how sign language improves early childhood literacy, helps reading disabilities, as well as, benefits of using sign language with children who have Down syndrome. You can find additional research and works cited on our research page as well.

Here are some links to articles that have run in the past couple years also discussing the benefits of baby sign language.

All About Baby Sign Language - Parents.com
The New Baby Talk - Parents.com
When Can I Start Teaching My Baby Sign Language? - Pregnancy Magazine
Signing With Your Baby or Toddler: How to Communicate Before Your Child Can Talk - Pregnancy Magazine
Want a Brainier Baby? - Time Magazine
Baby Signs May Give Small Boost - Bismark Tribune

We received this cute email the other day and wanted to share it with you all.

Dear Signing Time,

We had some pictures taken of my 17- month old Emily last week, and when the photographer asked her to say cheese, she signed cheese.

Just wanted to share the picture!

Sincerely,

Julie Z. from Chicago

We are excited to announce the Signing Time Sweepstakes Winner, Christine N. from Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Sean, Christine and Danielle meet Rachel, Leah and Alex at the Triangle Down Syndrome Network Buddy Walk

Christine is the mother of two children, Sean (3 ½) and Danielle (1). Christine discovered Signing Time when Sean was one year old and started learning basic signs with him. She found that using sign language helped her understand Sean’s needs and wants and started watching Signing Time weekly. Christine has also been in the childcare business for 20 years and started using sign language with children she takes care of.

A couple years later, Danielle, who was born with Down syndrome, did not pass her newborn hearing screenings. When Danielle was two months old, she was diagnosed with profound hearing loss in her left ear and mild hearing loss in her right ear. At three months old she was fitted with hearing aids. Christine felt grateful that she was introduced to sign language before Danielle’s birth and has seen how it has really helped Sean communicate with his little sister.

Sean pushes Danielle during the Buddy Walk

“Signing Time has been a life saver,” said Christine. “The importance of signing in our home is so very needed. I love it because at such a young age, Danielle can already tell me what she wants. She knows enough signs for me to understand when she wants to eat, or when she wants a bottle, or even when she is getting tired. It is so nice to understand her. I feel like we are getting a jump start on communication.”

Danielle, Sean, Christine and husband Bill were very excited to meet Rachel at the Triangle Down Syndrome Network Buddy Walk in North Carolina.  Danielle interacted with Rachel showing her a couple of her signs. Christine reports that Sean was getting to the point where he wasn’t too interested in Signing Time, but after seeing Rachel, Alex and Leah in person….he can’t get enough of it.

Congratulations Christine!! We wish you, Sean, Danielle and Bill the best!

I am Grateful!
by Alex from Signing Time

Last January I went to the city of Accra in Ghana, Africa. I felt thankful for things I had never really thought about before. In Accra, there isn’t a good trash removal system. Instead, people put their garbage in a bag, set it on the street, and set fire to it. All the fires made the air smoky. I realized how thankful I was for a garbage system and clean air. Where we stayed in Ghana, if I wanted a hot shower, I took water from the well (the water was not so clean), boiled it on the stove, put the hot water in the tub, scooped the water out with a cup, and poured it on my head. I was so thankful for that hot “shower.” I felt thankful that at home it is easier to shower.

The children at the deaf school near Accra only had two outfits to wear—school clothes and play clothes. They have to have their hair shaved off while they are in school. They didn’t really have toys to play with, but they had tons of fun on a field with tall weeds and dirt playing soccer. These kids were happy. They didn’t have a lot of the things I have, but they were thankful for everything they have. I realized that I was so lucky to have so many things, and that I could be happy even without those things.

So, since it is getting close to Thanksgiving, I want to share with you some of the things I feel thankful for today.

I am thankful for:

•    My family
•    Clean air, garbage system, and clean water
•    Friendships
•    My home
•    A good school
•    Music lessons
•    My Health
•    My church
•    My country
•    Signing Time

I hope you will take time to count your blessings and be thankful.

Elizabeth Watching Signing Time

Remember that 17-month old toddler, Elizabeth Barrett, who astonished us all when she proved that reading at such a young age was possible? Last March, Elizabeth and her parents were invited to appear on the Today Show, where Elizabeth read words and even sentences in front of a nation-wide audience. Elizabeth’s parents attribute her early reading in part to Signing Time.

According to the Today Show website, “The Barretts are speech pathologists, and when Elizabeth was born, they started teaching her sign language along with spoken language. They read to her often, and her favorite television program — the only one her parents let her watch — was a PBS show called “Signing Time,” which teaches kids sign language.”

As we have mentioned on our website, after the Barretts appeared on the Today Show, Signing Time invited Elizabeth to be a part of Baby Signing Time 3 & 4, where she was able to demonstrate her sign language skills.

Well, Elizabeth continues to WOW audiences around the nation. The Barretts were again invited to go onto the Today Show, where Elizabeth demonstrated how she can now read Spanish!

Elizabeth Reading

Visit our website and read the article: Baby Learns to Read with Help from Signing Time. You can read and even watch the Today Show clips that ran in March as well as today, November 7th. We also included some little extras that we put together from Elizabeth’s visit to Salt Lake City.

Don’t forget to check out Rachel’s blog to read all about her experience signing with Elizabeth.

Watch and Read Today Show clip from November 7th