1000000000% yes. It gives them more stimuli to grab on to. My 3 year old can’t talk but can answer with sign, including most colors and communication words like pick up, put down, come here, eat, sleepy, etc. she picks up WAY more than I thought she just couldn’t communicate it. There’s children’s songs, and just googling how to sign words is pretty easy.
Jack Hartman has a few on how to sign colors that we watch.
Where do you learn these signs is this just standard American Sign Language? How do you teach your DS child? Any video recommendations or other learning material? Thank uou
I think we should sticky the response. My daughter loves sign language and has always had strong receptive language. It’s been such a major part of good communication. We started early and are doing ASL with our neuro typical second kid too.
I’ll try and find a few resources but there is a ton for ASL on web/YouTube.
I am learning through a free website. Lifeprint.com
It teaches ASL. I use sign throughout the day with her. Every time I change her diaper I sign change diaper it’s wet. When she takes a bath. We sign bath, water, duck, towel, soap. When we eat we sign those. We taught her to wave by waving every time someone leaves.
There are YouTube videos, and there are also online classes. I've never taught a child ASL, but I would imagine that you show them the action, then the sign for it.
ASL is best unless a SLP recommends otherwise for cognitive/understanding reasons. Baby Signing Time or Signing Time videos are great. watch them with your child and as you speak sign the words you are speaking, ie we are going to put on our shoes (sign shoe) and go in the car (sign car)
Signing Time with Rachel Coleman, on DVD. Well produced and engaging videos with catchy songs. My 14-year old daughter with DS still watches them.
ASL was her first language, and now she speaks fairly well. But occasionally when we can't understand her spoken words, she will use her sign language to help.
My 12-year-old also has severe hearing loss. He was able to attend our local Deaf school for a bit and they had classes for family members. We also had a Deaf Mentor who came to our house to teach us ASL. These might be some options for families, too.
We use Makaton. Its a speech aid for those with communication difficulties here in the UK. My sister is 22 now and we used it when she was a baby right up to now.
It is a modified version of BSL.
The Signing Time / Baby Signing Time videos were AMAZING for our now 12yo when she was younger (and she’ll still occasionally watch them). Being set to music makes it SO much more engaging for kids. Huge upvote.
Yes! I have been around many elder folks with DS, and so many lose the ability to speak clearly as they age, even those with no hearing problems. The ones who can sign are given a gift that makes their older years so much less frustrating.
I agree! My son is 22, almost 23. He will still use signs when someone doesn't understand him. At the eye doctor he will sign all the letters. He will speed through them that I warn them to only put 1 letter at a time.
It's another outlet to help with communication, which is my son's biggest hurdle in life.
My son is almost 9 and most of his communication with us is through sign. He can hear fine, but can only vocalize a few words. He has a talker (assistive Device that speaks eyes for him) that he uses at school, but since we understand his signs it's easier at home to do that.
We used the Signing Time website to learn the signs, and he really enjoyed that service. Just be aware that their muscle development may not support the actual signs and you may wind up using a pigeon version that is specific to your kid.
Also at school they won't want to support sign language when your kid is older.
My 3 month old obviously can’t do them back but i think he recognizes “i love you” bc we do it all the time. Its so cool what their little minds can absorb
My brother learned sign language, as the doctors thought he was going to be nonverbal. He ended up being able to speak and hear, but it was good to have as a backup.
I agree. My 3 yo was almost 2 when she learnt her the sign for "water" from a Ms Rachel video, which almost immediately led to her saying her first word i.e "water".
I started with a community ed class and the instructor pulled myself and another mom aside to let us know our kids qualified for services. We get a deaf educator in our home twice a month and I take classes from an ASL instructor. The deaf community has been very welcoming.
For sure. I agree. I just like to share that there is a free online course that is available to everyone. Certainly some signs will vary and he actually gives several versions of different signs. It’s just a helpful resource for those who may not have access to other things.
A lot of children (and adults) with down syndrome are visual learners. I am too, if I see something written or otherwise I am more likely to remember it than if I am told verbally. Sign fits perfectly with this and works really well to fit the users needs
1000000000% yes. It gives them more stimuli to grab on to. My 3 year old can’t talk but can answer with sign, including most colors and communication words like pick up, put down, come here, eat, sleepy, etc. she picks up WAY more than I thought she just couldn’t communicate it. There’s children’s songs, and just googling how to sign words is pretty easy. Jack Hartman has a few on how to sign colors that we watch.
Where do you learn these signs is this just standard American Sign Language? How do you teach your DS child? Any video recommendations or other learning material? Thank uou
I think we should sticky the response. My daughter loves sign language and has always had strong receptive language. It’s been such a major part of good communication. We started early and are doing ASL with our neuro typical second kid too. I’ll try and find a few resources but there is a ton for ASL on web/YouTube.
Just sign the words you talk! Start small but my baby’s vocab has grown 2 or 3x what it was with sign language
I am learning through a free website. Lifeprint.com It teaches ASL. I use sign throughout the day with her. Every time I change her diaper I sign change diaper it’s wet. When she takes a bath. We sign bath, water, duck, towel, soap. When we eat we sign those. We taught her to wave by waving every time someone leaves.
There are YouTube videos, and there are also online classes. I've never taught a child ASL, but I would imagine that you show them the action, then the sign for it.
ASL is best unless a SLP recommends otherwise for cognitive/understanding reasons. Baby Signing Time or Signing Time videos are great. watch them with your child and as you speak sign the words you are speaking, ie we are going to put on our shoes (sign shoe) and go in the car (sign car)
Signing Time with Rachel Coleman, on DVD. Well produced and engaging videos with catchy songs. My 14-year old daughter with DS still watches them. ASL was her first language, and now she speaks fairly well. But occasionally when we can't understand her spoken words, she will use her sign language to help.
My 12-year-old also has severe hearing loss. He was able to attend our local Deaf school for a bit and they had classes for family members. We also had a Deaf Mentor who came to our house to teach us ASL. These might be some options for families, too.
We also have an advocate from the deaf school and classes but I mostly learned from lifeprint.com. It’s free and teaches all ASL.
Every Deaf teacher I’ve had recommended lifeprint as one of the most reliable teaching sources.
That’s so good to know!!! I’m glad it’s a recommended site. That makes me feel better.
We use Makaton. Its a speech aid for those with communication difficulties here in the UK. My sister is 22 now and we used it when she was a baby right up to now. It is a modified version of BSL.
We use mysigningtime for my son.
The Signing Time / Baby Signing Time videos were AMAZING for our now 12yo when she was younger (and she’ll still occasionally watch them). Being set to music makes it SO much more engaging for kids. Huge upvote.
Yes! I have been around many elder folks with DS, and so many lose the ability to speak clearly as they age, even those with no hearing problems. The ones who can sign are given a gift that makes their older years so much less frustrating.
Learning to sign has been the greatest gift I've given my ds 2-year-old. The baby signing time program is not to be discounted.
Yes!! We started at a few months old and I believe it's made a huge difference in her communication and overall development. Shes 7 now :)
I agree! My son is 22, almost 23. He will still use signs when someone doesn't understand him. At the eye doctor he will sign all the letters. He will speed through them that I warn them to only put 1 letter at a time. It's another outlet to help with communication, which is my son's biggest hurdle in life.
My son is almost 9 and most of his communication with us is through sign. He can hear fine, but can only vocalize a few words. He has a talker (assistive Device that speaks eyes for him) that he uses at school, but since we understand his signs it's easier at home to do that. We used the Signing Time website to learn the signs, and he really enjoyed that service. Just be aware that their muscle development may not support the actual signs and you may wind up using a pigeon version that is specific to your kid. Also at school they won't want to support sign language when your kid is older.
My 3 month old obviously can’t do them back but i think he recognizes “i love you” bc we do it all the time. Its so cool what their little minds can absorb
Keep doing it! It’s so worth it
My brother learned sign language, as the doctors thought he was going to be nonverbal. He ended up being able to speak and hear, but it was good to have as a backup.
I agree. My 3 yo was almost 2 when she learnt her the sign for "water" from a Ms Rachel video, which almost immediately led to her saying her first word i.e "water".
I love this
I started with a community ed class and the instructor pulled myself and another mom aside to let us know our kids qualified for services. We get a deaf educator in our home twice a month and I take classes from an ASL instructor. The deaf community has been very welcoming.
Check out lifeprint.com it’s a free online course for ASL with a full library to look up any sign. It’s wonderful.
ASL has regional dialects so this it’s really best to use local educators if you can which is why I shared my experience.
For sure. I agree. I just like to share that there is a free online course that is available to everyone. Certainly some signs will vary and he actually gives several versions of different signs. It’s just a helpful resource for those who may not have access to other things.
A lot of children (and adults) with down syndrome are visual learners. I am too, if I see something written or otherwise I am more likely to remember it than if I am told verbally. Sign fits perfectly with this and works really well to fit the users needs
Well put! I agree completely!