2. What is America Sign Language (ASL)
Why use ASL with infant & toddlers
How to choose and integrate Signs in an infant/toddler
program
How to Identify Signs of Progress
Learning Objectives
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3. What is American Sign Language?
ASL is a visual language
Studies show that children learn through what they SEE – HEAR – DO
The shape, placement, and movement of the hands,
facial expressions and body movements,
all play important role in conveying information.
When you incorporate ASL into your infant/toddler program you are “unlocking
the potential” in the whole child…..every child.
Key to success….Highlight the vocabulary you want child
to know; if child wants some milk, say the word MILK
………..then ask the question ‘do you want some MILK?’
Make sign for ‘MILK’
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4. Promotes self-esteem and confidence
Supports children’s ability to express emotions
Raises awareness of diversity
Why Use ASL in an
Infant & Toddler Program?
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Bridges communication with
preverbal children.
Promotes early literacy skills
5. 1. Choose signs that match a child’s interests
2. Choose signs for objects, actions and describing words.
3. Choose signs for words children can’t say yet.
Rain
Kangaroo – Elephant - Toothbrush
Music
Blocks
Dancing
How to Choose & Integrate Signs into
an Infant/Toddler Program
Turtle Socks
Jump
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6. 4. Choose signs for words a child doesn’t say clearly.
5. Choose signs that can help in dangerous situations.
For example, “ba” for Ball, Bath, and so on.
Ball
Bath
Hurt
Help
How to Choose & Integrate Signs into
an Infant/Toddler Program
Stop
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7. 6. Choose signs that can prevent frustration.
7. Choose signs for frequently-used words.
Example, during nap time and mealtime routines
Use signs from daily routines, clean-up, outside, story time
Clean-up
Book
Sleep
All Done/Finish
Outside
How to Choose & Integrate Signs into
an Infant/Toddler Program
More
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8. HAPPY
SAD
Sign language is a great ‘tool’ to help young children
Express Emotions & Feelings
8. Choose signs to help children express their emotions.
How to Choose & Integrate Signs into
an Infant/Toddler Program
LOVE
ANGRY
AFRAID
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9. Signs and Books – A Great Partnership
STARS
LIGHT
MOUSE
MOON
How to Integrate Signs into Story Time
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10. How to Identify Signs of Progress?
Steps children will take in the journey from the sign to word
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11. Happy Signing!!
To learn how to bring an in-service staff presentation to your early
learning program call (480) 639-5439.
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Editor's Notes
Review three categories where sign language can be used
1: Task-oriented (meet a need, transition between
Activities or to accomplish daily routines).
2: Social/Emotional (to express personal emotions,
to show gratitude, or to ask for help).
3: Descriptive/Conversational (to label objects, to
acknowledge sounds, to emphasize spoken words
and acknowledge children’s alphabet knowledge).
According to the National Association of the Deaf, ASL “is a visual language….
Studies show that children learn through what they see, hear, and do.
The shape, placement, and movement of the hands,
facial expressions and body movements,
all play important role in conveying information.
When you incorporate ASL into your curriculum you are capturing the
whole child…..every child.
Incorporating ASL into your curriculum you are capturing the whole child — every child. You don’t need to learn the structure of the language to incorporate it into your curriculum.
What is important is to highlight the vocabulary you want children to know. As an educator you would emphasize the word that they want the child to remember.
For instance, if you are asking an infant if they would like milk, you say, “Do you want MILK?” As you say milk you would also sign MILK. Then offer the milk to the child.
This allows the child to start making concrete connections and builds their vocabulary.
ASL is a valuable addition to early education curriculum because it....(click to show each)
improves children’s literacy skills,
enhances their sense of self-esteem and confidence,
supports their ability to express emotions,
and raises awareness of diversity.
Studies show that children learn through what they see, hear, and do. Incorporating ASL into your curriculum you are capturing the whole child — every child.
You don’t need to learn the structure of the language to incorporate ASL into your curriculum.
Once children start sighing they love it!
Follow the child’s lead……
Choose signs that match a child’s interests. Children are more likely to learn signs for things they like and want to communicate about..
2. Choose signs for objects, actions and describing words. Young children love to sign about objects (nouns) like their toys, animals and food. They also enjoy signs about things they love to do (verbs), like PLAY, EAT and LOVE.
3. Choose signs for words children can’t say yet. Remember, our main goal of teaching signs is to help children communicate when they don’t have a way to express themselves with words. Even children who can already say quite a few words will appreciate signs for words that might still be too hard for them—like “kangaroo” or “toothbrush.”
Note: Mention that most signs used are ASL; however, there are a few signs that are
‘kid’ friendly that are used with infants & toddlers and with some children with special
needs to get them started with signing.
4. Choose signs for words a child doesn’t say clearly. Young children often use the same sound pattern to mean many things, like “ba” for bottle, ball, blanket, bath, and so on. If a child has a sign to use along with the word, the message will be much clearer! This also applies to older children.
5. Choose signs that can help in dangerous situations. HOT, HURT or HELP can be valuable signs for babies in distressing situations. In fact, those signs are often referred to such signs as “safety” signs.
6. Choose signs that can prevent frustration. Using signs like MORE, ALL DONE and SLEEP can help give babies a stronger sense of control during mealtime and bedtime routines. This sense of control helps reduce frustration for babies, caregivers and parents.
7. Choose signs for frequently-used words. The more often you use a sign, the easier it will be for an infant or toddler to learn it. Choosing signs from daily routines like mealtime, play time and naptime is a great way to help you and children you care for have many chances for signing adventures!
Note: These notes are for the next slide…
Now that we have explores strategies for choosing signs…..let’s review three categories where sign language can be used.
First, Task-oriented: task that meet a need; such as transition between
activities or to accomplish daily routines. Click to next slide
BOOKS ABOUT FEELINGS
There are a variety of ways to provide children an opportunity to learn how to express their emotions appropriately. One way is to begin with a children’s book that has a lot of different feeling vocabulary and another is through songs.
‘Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis
(preschool children)
‘Baby Scooters Feelings – a Baby Signs collection’
(infants & toddlers)
SONGS ABOUT FEELINGS
‘When You’re Happy and You Know It’…….great for younger children
For older children a fun song is…’Sometimes I’m Happy’
Last, but not least, is the 3rd category where sign language can be use. This is
referred to as Descriptive/Conversational: it addresses labeling objects,
acknowledging sounds, emphasizing spoken words and acknowledging
children’s alphabet knowledge. Click next slide
With older children you will know what story they enjoy most by the books they pick out. Young children; especially infants and toddlers love reading the same book over and over, which makes it easy to work in lots of practice with signs.
Refer participants to the display of story time books.
Now that we have gone through the process….what are signs to look for that shows children are making progress. Click next slide
The first sign of progress is when a child starts watching your hands as you sign….this takes the most time, but once a child takes the first step the next steps follow more easily.
The next (6) steps not only apply to preverbal babies and children with special needs, it also applies to dual language learners; as well as, children who are learning new words or concepts. Click next slide
