New Baby

We are having our baby tomorrow at 7:30am. I am so excited to find out what the gender is. Daddy is excited and I am anxious... can't wait to hold this new baby in my arms and just stare at it. I remember not sleeping and watching Geran all night long. I hope I can sleep a bit with this one.

Smiles.

Smart Babies

Nothing better than seeing my 23 month old waiting inside the truck for me to go and grab his diaper bag, only to see him signing "MILK PLEASE" through the window on my way. His way of making sure I don't forget his milk bottle on my way back. Oh my, how smart are they?

Amanda

One Day at a Time.

In the last week, I was contacted by the Langley Developmental Society and Down Syndrome Society, a radio talk show and I feel a bit overwhelmed. I am so excited about the new contacts, but I feel unprepared at this time, as I am about to have a new baby next Tuesday.

How do working mothers do it? I am so in awe of the working mother that makes it look 'easy' to run a business and manage the home while raising her perfect children.

I wonder if any at home working dads find it a challenge, or if it is only use mother's that put so much on ourselves?

I just finished my last Baby Signs Class before taking a short leave and I have parents asking when I am resuming classes and they want MORE MORE MORE.

Which makes me excited as I want to GIVE GIVE GIVE... but I have to be careful, not to GIVE all of me away.... must save some energy for my family... my number one priority.

Amanda

Baby signing

Check out this video of a baby signing. If you don't believe that babies are smart and know what going on around them, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6JldfeuTNo

Signing and ADHD

My older son has ADHD with a myriad of other learning disabilities and broken executive skills. I found that visuals along with signing helped up cope throughout the years. Especially at school, as a teacher assistant, I have seen many boys who rely heavy on visual and signing supports. Children who live with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, have a difficult time trying to concentrating on following directions. If given a list of exercises at school or chores at home, they tend to hear the first or last instruction only and the middle get lost in translation.
Having these tasks in picture form on a list, help them to refer back to the list without disruption to those around them or fighting with parents about expectations. Signing from across a classroom with slight gestures, help these children stay focused without being reprimanded in public. This is especially helpful in a quiet learning environment. They see and hear everything around them, so anything to keep them on task, is helpful.

Signing is also another way for the fidgeting fingers to find something productive and fun to do while learning. Most children with ADHD tend to like learning new ideas through a game. They are also very smart and catch onto ideas quickly. Signing can keep this distractable guy on track.

Sunny days, new signs

Finally the sun has come out to play. With that in mind, let's take advantage of the nice weather and learn some PARK signs. Great first words for babies to learn while outside playing are:

Butterfly
Flower
Slide
Swing
Tree
Sun
Water
Ball
Play

Here is a video link to the sign WATER:

https://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=148

There are tons of fun songs and rhymes you can practice and sing with your baby.

One Little FLOWER, One Little Bee
One little FLOWER, one little bee.
One little blue bird, high in the TREE.
One little brown bear smiling at me.
One is the number I like,
you see.

You can look up (ASL dictionary) and sign the words I put in CAPS to practice.

Happy signing!

Invisible Learning

It's hard to sell new parents on signing to their babies, if they have never been introduced to this idea. The benefits of signing will be unseen to them, if they never tried it. They may go along and 'guess' at what their babies needs are. They will try to 'interpret' what their babies is sharing with them. They will sit and watch their 'toddlers' have meltdowns and may have a vague idea of why, but not fully know what is going on in their little minds.

Why do parents feel they have to suffer through the first few years not understanding what they baby needs and wants are? It may take a few weeks or months, but when your baby starts to sign with you, and you begin to build this incredible relationship; you will be pleasantly surprised how much more balanced, peaceful and fun parenting can be with only a few signs to support you.

Some great reads are Baby Signs, Baby Hearts and Baby Minds by Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn.
The founders of The Baby Signs Program. They have done over 25 years of extensive research on the effects of signing with your baby.

Not only does signing with your baby take the guesswork out of knowing what your baby wants, it will build a closer bond between you and your child. It will increase their IQ for years to come. Signing also allows babies to share their minds and show you how smart they really are. Even as young as a 6 month old baby can tell you when they want 'MORE MILK' or when they are 'DONE' being tickled.

Do yourself a favour and read up on the benefits of signing with your baby today!

https://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=66