Here is an example of why learning to sign is still helping Kayla communicate. Several weeks ago we came in the house after getting off the school bus. I was putting her backpack on the counter and getting ready to open it, as I always do, to see if there was anything sent home from her teacher. Before I could do that Kayla kept saying, what sounded like, "candy corn." I thought that was a little odd since that isn't something we have around the house, and she very rarely gets candy, I didn't even think she really knew what candy corn was (this was before Halloween.) She does watch Noggin, and if your kids do too then I'm sure you heard the Halloween song in which Moose was singing "I don't like candy corn." I thought maybe she picked the word up from that.
So I asked her "You want candy corn?" She answered, "noooo" and said, again what sounded just like "candy corn." After a little bit of back and forth trying to guess I finally said, "I'm sorry Kayla, I just don't know what you want. Can you show me?"
She then signed popcorn. The light bulb went off in my head, "oh! you want POPcorn!" (She wasn't saying it how she usually says it, I think she was getting it confused with hearing candy corn!) You should have seen her face light up when I finally got it, "yeah! In nere" she said, pointing to her backpack. I asked her, "Is there POPcorn in your backpack?" "yeah! POPcorn" and she did the sign for it again.
Sure enough, when I unzipped it there was the bag of popcorn! I bet she just couldn't wait to get in the house and get that popcorn out of her backpack! Now granted, I would have found the popcorn when I looked in the backpack anyway, but before that happened she was able to explain to me, since she knew the sign, what she wanted and where it was; and both of us were excited about that!
So that's why I was excited to see this promotion going on:
They are already taking pre-orders from Volumes 4-7 from Series 2. If you preorder by Dec 2 you get the 4-DVD gift set for the price of 3, and a free Series 2 music CD. Plus if you use this code (once per family): 10offs2 you get $10 off (not just this gift set, but any purchase over $15) - I know what Kayla is going to find in her Christmas stocking!
21 comments:
That is just awesome...she knew exactly what she wanted and where it was and was waiting for you to figure it out.
What a smartie pants you have there.
The signing sounds brilliant. I was reading a great article today about a Down's Syndrome lad who is a great actor. His parents found that he had a gift for memorising lots of text and he showed a great gift in this area and is on quite a few programmes in England now. Isn't that awesome?
POPcorn! I'm glad you all found yourselves something that works to benefit the whole family! You've saved years of frustration for Kayla! Hooray for signing time!
She IS a smarty pants :) That is really cool. I'd like to learn sign language myself!
I get so excited to read about the happenings of Kayla. I even read this twice!! Wow!! how exciting that you finally got it Mom!! and Kayla for signing what you just did not understand what she was saying!!! (after you told her you did not know what she wanted).. :)))) I smiled all the way thru..... Love Mom/Grandma
I've only used a few basic signs with my kids, but it's been a really fun way to communicate with them. Particarly with the boys when they were young - my girl started talking early and she hasn't stopped!
We signed with Kendall when she was little but I hadnt heard anything about these then,of course,that was a long time ago now,but at the time I was a fluent signer-not now,you lose it without practice...LOL,I still catch myself using "more","play" and "eat" signs.
I don't blame you for loving the Signing Time videos. They have really helped your whole family to communicate better.
Hope you're feeling well!
Kayla is so adorable! She knew what she wanted.
Olyvia loves Signing TIme. We only have Vol 1-4, but she really enjoys them.
We're big signers in our home too. I can't imagine how frustrated Gabe would feel if we didn't understand him. Your popcorn story is a perfect example. If you just gave up on trying to understand Kayla, imagine how she would have felt.
We once met a woman and son at a park in Vancouver. Her son was about four, I think, and she remarked that she regretted stopping the use of sign language as she sometimes couldn't understand him. I've really taken that story to heart. I plan on using sign for a long, long time.
Currently, we use two websites to teach ourselves and then Gabe. But I wouldn't mind spicing it up with DVD's. Since Gabe still isn't interested in watching TV, I'll have to wait to buy. But I am happy that you posted this topic!
Thanks for the info. We have tried some signing with Noah. He picked up on a few things but then wouldn't use them once he realized we wanted him to. He is very stubborn. He is verbalizing more and more daily, but I know we are a long way away from him being able to make all his wants and needs known. He loves tv so maybe we will give these videos a try.
What a smart little girl! I think that was so cute.I can see how she mixed up the two candy corn and pop corn.My kids have done the same thing when they were little. Good for her signing it to you!
love,
mimi
We used signing with our boys with Fragile X. They were (and are) speech delayed, and in the early days it really helped them understand that they had a responsibility in a conversation. For instance, I'd say, "Do you want more?" (while signing more) and would show them how to sign it. They figured out that if they wanted more, they needed to sign it. Eventually a sound like "Mo" would come out with the sign. And as they got older, they could use signs when I couldn't understand them. I highly recommend it.
Goosebumps. Love it - it's amazing how much sign language helped us as well. It's awesome to see she is still using it to get her needs/wants met.....really helps avoid the frustrations. Tell kayla I like Popcorn too! :)
That's a neat story. I was fascinated with sign language growing up and took classes it in Jr.High at the local school for the deaf. I even did sign language to a Sandi Patti song in my high school Jr. Miss pageant and won talent!
I think Micah will be getting some in his stocking as well. If he would use his signs we could actually communicate and end the frustration.
I need to look into signing with Zander. He isn't big on talking at all and it obviously frustrates him that we don't understand. Thanks for the reminder!
I love signing time also. It has done wonders between Abriella and I, I really need to get more. I just wish Abe would get them now but he has absolutely NO interest.
What a great Kayla story. We are big signing fans over here too!! I am so excited to see the new ones:))
We love signing time here too! It's been awesome for Brant's speech development and for eliminating frustrations in communication when clarity is an issue :)
I just ordered these - but didn't have the code - dang it! Serves me right for being so behind on reading blogs ;)
Love that you figured out what Kayla was telling you and it made her so happy - I know that look!!!
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