Gearhead Mom

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Sign of the Times:  More than a Passing Fancy

Posted by Jenny M. @ 1:00 PM

Editor’s Note: This just in from guest reviewer Jenny M. Thanks, Jen!

As I drove home from work the other night, I spotted a minivan wrapped in an ad for Baby Sign Language Workshops. I surmised that the driver of the vehicle was probably a mom and was probably somewhere in my age group, 30- to 40-something. I inwardly admired her business acumen; don’t we all want to harness this interest/expertise in motherhood and childrearing and spread the wealth (as well as earn it)? Then I reflected on the length of my family’s journey through baby signing, and the likelihood of my ever
1) hiring a consultant for baby signing
2) attending a workshop for baby signing, or
3) reading a book about baby signing (conclusion: unlikely). 

And I felt thankful that someone introduced me to the Signing Time video series, because these videos are about way more than teaching your baby to sign. You’ll get caught up in the good feelings. And the signs, and the words, and the songs… well, they’ll just follow. Despite your inwardly skeptical nature.

Six Reasons I love Signing Time: 
1.  These videos are a more welcome, and less infuriating, successor to the Baby Einstein videos.  Unlike Baby Einstein, you truly cannot make these videos at home.
2.  The characters in the videos are real, and you will love them for it. The story is captivating: Parents have a child. Child is born deaf. Parents want relatives to learn sign language as they learn it and teach their daughter. Family makes video to facilitate extended family’s learning, and the stars are Leah, deaf daughter, and Alex, hearing cousin, along with neighborhood friends and families. Family love, heartwarming story: what’s not to like?
3.  Leah’s mom is a rock star! For real: she was formerly in a rock band. She channeled her talent into writing, composing, and performing great songs in the Signing Time series that teach about colors, manners, falling down and getting hurt, etc. These are some of the best children’s songs, independent of the videos, around. Our favorite: “Proud to Be Me,” a rocking tune (one version has a techno beat) about celebrating one’s gender. 
4.  I truly believe that besides signs, my daughter learned much of her early vocabulary from these videos. Babies and toddlers tend to gain words from parents pointing and talking to them. But we live in a warm climate, where, for example, we will never point at snow. Snow in books is not the same as snow in videos. 
5.  The de Azevedo Colemans (the family behind the Signing Time videos) are a completely inspirational family. Their first daughter, Leah, was born deaf; their second daughter, Lucy, was born with cerebral palsy and spina bifida. The videos feature all types of children in all types of developmental stages and with various disabilities. It’s great to see such positive role models on a DVD. The kids are genuine: sometimes hammy, sometimes shy, but never fake (sorry!) like the uber-polished crew on Barney. 
6.  Finally, you will want to watch these videos with your child. My husband really gets into the signs. I love getting to know the people. And Alex’s giggle is infectious.

Editor’s Note:
Jenny (or Mama JJ as Sy calls her) got us a set of these DVDs for us when Sy was born. I think Rog and I love them as much as she does.

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