Parent getting discouraged

[dmmetler]

I have one little girl in my Sign and Sing class who came in with one sign (DOG) which she used regularly. Well, after four classes, she's still signing DOG-and the parent is getting very discouraged, especially since most of the other children are imitating signs in class and the parents are coming in with new signing stories weekly.

This child is right at 1 yr old (she's one day younger than my daughter), and is starting to talk, so I'm thinking that maybe it's simply that she's focusing on speech now instead of signing? Any advice for these parents (besides "buy Signing time" ;) )? They came in SO enthusiastic about this, and it's hard to know what to say, especially when I have a child who is starting to sign sentences at the same age (but has been signed to and with since birth, and who I sign around almost non-stop).

[aligreat]

I have signed with my twins since birth, and they didn't really start signing up a storm until we bought BST. They enjoyed watching ST, but they never signed with the DVDs. BST repeats just a few signs in each song. It is perfect for children under three. Now my little ones sign with BST, and Alexandria has started imitating signs the first time she sees them.

I think that I have already shared this story, but it fits here. We were at a store in the Christmas decoration section. There was a little reindeer that rocked like a rocking horse. I let Alexandria ride on it for a little bit while I signed "Deer." I told her that we would have to get it if she signed "Deer," and to my surprise she did it. She has been wanting a rocking horse for awhile, and since it is a Christmas decoration too we had to let her have it before Christmas. It looks so cute in our little apartment.

[musictchr1]

Boy, can I relate! I've been signing to Corinne for a good long time now, and all she signs is "light". She will react to other signs, so she clearly knows what's going on, but simply isn't signing much yet. She does have a few spoken words, so I'm wondering if she's focusing more on spoken word, too.

I'll be following this thread to see what others have to recommend!!

Heather

[kimberly]

I guess I'd just tell them it'll take a little patience. Every little child has their own timetable. And while they may not be signing back, they ARE paying attention and learning the signs. I think that in the near future, your student (and Corrinne) will start throwing signs out one after the other. (For many, that is also how speech develops -- only a few words for a while, and then - suddenly - tons of words!). For a while, Carter would only sign "ball". Then one day when he was about 15 months, he started signing almost ALL of Volumes 1-3. And Jacob didn't really start using too many signs until he was almost two. I'm sure it will come soon.