Signing What is it really all about !!!!!!

[SID]

Hi all it is so good to be back. For all of you who do not know me Iam mom to Cody 4 yr old . I have been reading about all the speech and signing . Cody is just now talking not good but the words are comming more every day. I get soooooo mad when people tell me not to sign to my son !!! Well I have been signing to my son for 4 years he can sign over 200 words we use it every day for everything. If he is having a fit I stop him and tell him use your sign . He can tell me what he wants where he wants to go . He can share his day with me when I ask what did you do in school today. He can tell me go see MAWMAW. (GRANDMA ) Play at school swing. It is in most ways baby talk but just the same he can talk to me and I him. I get so mad when a (St ) tells me to stop signing or he will not talk .If you read up on this you will find it is harder to sign then to talk and most kids who sign will stop signing once they talk.A (ST ) even told me that once.I want Cody to always sign and I will sign to him forever. Even when the words come. I can ask him to sign and when I want him to use his words .I tell him use your words. He understands thats. I was told he would never understand that . SOOOOO Sorry but they where wrong again. ;D ;D If I had a dime for everytime they have been wrong about my son in the last 4 years I would be rich. ;D Next to the love I give him and care I give him every day signing is the best thing I have ever given my son!!!!.I know not everyone can sign. I have been told that over and over. But I can he can my family can my friends even sign to him enought to know his needs. The people who are around that can not sign I can be there to tell them what he is signing. The ones that really make me mad are the teachers and (ST.) I have gone round and round about that let me tell you. It is sad that my 4 year DS son can sign more then his( ST. ) I had much to say about that one and she is learning fast I have to say along with his peschool teacher this year. ;D You want my son to be good in your class then learn to talk to him!!!!!!!!!! You want my son to sit and work for you then learn to talk to him!!! Enought said!!! !!!!!Signing is something special Cody and I share every day . We laught and play and sign our day away.He is a very good little boy and I have very little trouble with him and I really feel if I could not talk to him or him I we would be in a world of hurt right now. I work in a special needs school as a teachers aid with kids birth to 3 years old. I sign to all the kids all day long and most of them pick it up really good . It really helps no matter what ,no one will ever tell me differnt!!!.I see it in my son and the kids I work with . If you are going to start signing start around 6 months. It may take them till one year of age to get it down but just keep doing it it will come. It will save you alot of trouble .Not just every day words like more drink do fun words too. Monkey fun word Cody laught at that word He has never seen a real one but the sign word is funny to him. We sing in sign we play in sign.Sooooo what if not everyone can come in our world every day we our there and to me thats all that counts !!! Enought SAID HUGS SID

[christie]

SID, I agree signing is a GREAT way to start out and help our kids learn to communicate with as less frustration as possible ;D We started Chris signing in EI and even now at 12 I think he would prefer that way of communication.

The teacher Chris has now actually signs the entire school day along with verbal of course and Chris seems to really love it as he is one very visual kid. His newest favorite sign these days is "TOMORROW" even thou he can say Tomorrow very well. BUT it really is the cutest when he signs it along with saying it ;D

I have to say, for me, I do get concerned that as he gets older and maybe his verbal just doesn't come along as well as I hoped for, signing will help but not as much in many circumstances. Sadly most people do not know sign and as Chris gets older even if he can sign his needs what good is that outside the family and in the real world working?? Cause although we all know it and understand, what the heck would happen if he were at a job and no one understood sign, seems to me the frustration would be right back to the delay in verbal frustration. Hmmm you KWIM??

AGAIN yes I think its a SUPER tool when young but as some get older and may still be delayed in speech, which really can ve very common in ones with DS, there has to be a better way for them to communicate. Just my thoughts from a MOM that worries bout this very subject every day

CC

[Deborah]

I think signing is wonderful. Jenniger has a big signing vocabulary, not as much as I would like..but thats my fault. I teach 2 and 3 yr olds and incorporate signing in the lessons. The first word I taught them was "sit down" LOL ..that keeps me from yelling across a room. We sign in music as well. They are typical children and pick it up fast.
As far as not speaking because of signing, I have never had a ST tell me that. In fact, during a NDSS conference a few years ago we were seated next to a couple with a DS girl who looked about 12. She could talk and they carried on many converstaions. I noticed though that when speakers were speaking this family still carried on conversation, but used sign language. I thought how neat this was because they were not being disruptive to those around and it showed me that I could sign to Jennifer and it would not delay her words.

Jennifer is 5 and is just now starting to use words, although most are unintelligible it is a start.

[Pat]

SID, so good to see you posting again. I agree with you. I used to work at a deaf school that believed in total communication (signing & speech). The signing did NOT stop their speech. You should have been there for indoor recess I have taught all my kids to sign, I did not wait until John-John was born. It helps kids not be so frustrated by not being able to communicate. Although not everyone can sign, they can't sign for the deaf people in the world either. I had some group send me a fact??? sheet about not teaching our kids to sign. Can you guess where I filed that paper? ;D It works well to disipline them in church too Not that preachers kids would misbehave in church
Pat

[SID]

CC yes I do undrstand the signing is not the only way and when Cody is older it my not help as much. We are starting the picture book as well .Cody seems to do ok with it. I know this too will help when he is older and mommy can not be there. I am for anything that will help just as all moms are. The book will help outside the home and the signing is something we will always share. I like all moms hope the talking will replace the book some day.I have found that more people do sign then what we think. Around here anyway.As I said we sign all day and many times we have been out and some one will see me signing to Cody and will come up and sign to me. I think thats cool. ;D I was teaching myself for a long time but now I take a sign class I just love it. I use it with my other kids as well. My son who is 15 plays football. He got hit really hard in a game and was on the ground. I wanted to run out and see if he was ok. But did not want he friends to think he was a mommys boy.LOL So I stood on the side yelled his name and sign to him are you hurt bad? He put his hand up and signed no mom LOL Stood up and looked at me and signed thanks mom LOL His friend who knows we signed thought that was sooooo cool LOL . Yes it helps when it comes to yelling thats for sure LOL. I think that it is sweet that Chris likes the sign Tomorrow it is a fun sign to do . I think it is sweet to see any child sign . I really feel like you the visual input is very helpful for Cody . I can get him to do something better if I sign and talk to him. As I said I work at a school for special needs kids I work with the little ones most of the time there are three DS kids preschool age.Cody is the only one who signs of the three.I one mother said to me not long ago I wish I would have signed to my little one. She is starting to sign to her now.she is doing really well with i it I know there is a plan for Cody and for his life and I just have to believe what ever it may be there is a reason for it .As a mothers all I can do is give him the best I can and Love him whit all my heart Thats the easy part of it all . The rest is out of my hands. Only time will tell . WTG Jennifer keep up the good work with the signs and words !!!!! Hugs SID