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

We are back…well, Rachel and Leah get back sometime today.

The Triangle Down Syndrome Network Buddy Walk was fantastic. Rachel, Alex and Leah were a smash!

Going down the slide

After the morning show interview that I talked about in the last post, we all went over to Brier Creek Community Park, where we set up and got ready for the big performance. We may have stopped to take advantage of some fun things at the Buddy Walk…

Rachel, Alex and Leah at the Meet and Greet

After a couple of times down the slide, we headed over to our table and set up a place where people could stop and meet Rachel, Alex and Leah. Even before we set up, the hosts of Signing Time were bombarded… and loved every minute of it.

They had a chance to meet all the little buddies who were there to walk, and even got to see some people who came just to meet the Signing Time stars!

We even had the chance to meet 15-year old Noah Long, who (I hope I get the story right) unbeknownst to his family, volunteered them to help at the Buddy Walk so he would have a chance to work for a good cause and meet Rachel at the same time.

Lindsey Meeting Noah Long

Noah, who is blind, happened to stumble upon the music for Signing Time and has been a fan ever since. It was nice to finally meet him and his family.

When it came time to get Rachel, Alex and Leah to the stage, we felt so bad for leaving the booth…but we literally had to run to make it to the stage on time - we were running as they made the announcement. Rachel went on first and sang the Signing Time theme song. When Alex and Leah were introduced, they were greeted by the best applause and hooting and hollering around!

As part of the show, Rachel, Alex and Leah performed the Silly Pizza song, one of Rachel’s favorites It just so happens that all our Signing Time fans love this song and get really bummed if Rachel doesn’t perform it. Perhaps one of the most challenging songs, Rachel, Alex, Leah and a couple of Buddy Walk attendees performed this without a hitch. As a joke, Rachel falls to the stage exhausted. You can view the video below.



You can read all about one fans experience on our forum.

After the performance, Rachel, Alex and Leah joined the walkers for a walk around the park. From the looks of it, there were almost 2,000 participants that came for the walk.

Walking at the Buddy Walk

All in all, the Buddy Walk was a huge success…and we were so excited to be a part of it. You can see more photos on our website in the Photo Album.

The next day, Rachel and Leah were able to host a Signing Time Story Time at the Child Development Center in Wilmington. Students with exceptionalities and disabilities were able to meet these two stars and learned some sign language at the same time. Rachel and Leah were also able to meet with parents and families living in or around Wilmington, where they were able to talk about the importance of giving communication to all children, regardless of ability.

The Wilmington Star News reported before the event: Star News Parents: Meet Signing Time Host.

Signing Time is for children of all abilities, including children who have Down syndrome. Since it is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we compiled different stories from parents all over the United States, who have shared their experience using Signing Time with their children who have Down Syndrome.

We hope you are enlightened by what others have to say. Feel free to share your stories too.

Solid Means of Communication
By Tammy H. mother of Parker from Alpine, UT
www.prayingforparker.com
www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com

Parker was in the PICU after a very frightening surgery to remove his tonsils. Because of airway issues he had been intubated. In order to keep him safe while on the vent, they gave him medication that made movement impossible.

I’ll never forget walking up to my son, looking into his eyes and watching as one lone tear slid down his face. That tear spoke volumes.

This experience convinced me of the importance of providing Parker with a solid means of communication.

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THANK YOU ALL for all of your amazing posts about Baby Signing Time!

We have randomly selected the winner of the 2008 Baby Signing Time blog competition!! YAY for Jessica K. from Rexburg, Idaho!!

Jessica will receive a Baby Signing Time Gift Set that includes all four Baby Signing Time DVDs and corresponding music CDs.

If you haven’t had a chance to see what Baby Signing Time 3: A New Day and Baby Signing Time 4: Let’s be Friends is all about, you can watch the previews on our BRAND NEW Baby Signing Time website!

Just wanted to let all of you know that Rachel will be performing during the Willamette Valley Down Syndrome Association (WVDSA) Buddy Walk from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 27th at the amphitheater located in Riverfront Park in Salem. Rachel will also be performing during a fund-raising concert to benefit the WVDSA. The concert will be held on Friday, September 26th at 6:30 p.m. at the Morningstar Community Church located at 4775 27th Ave SE.

Rachel and I will be there to meet you following each event. I also wanted to share a story of one little girl who learned sign language as a means to communicate, and is very excited to show off her signs for Rachel at the event.

Keep reading for more….

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