MOTHERING Magazine
July/August 2004
By Jen Gross

Let your fingers do the talking
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES ON TODDLER SIGNING

Since beginning to sign with my son, I've come across many sign-language videos, books, kits, and even CDs for infants and toddlers, none of which are needed to begin. To start, you need learn only a few signs to teach to your infant or toddler. Most libraries have at least one illustrated book on signing. I have also found some good websites with video clips. And feel free to make up your own signs.

Books

Acredolo, Linda, Susan Goodwyn, et al. Baby Signs, revised ed. McGraw-Hill/ Contemporary Books, 2002. Based on invented signs, A line of related products is also sold under the brand name Baby Signs.

Bahan, Ben, and Joe Dannis. Signs for Me. Independent Publishers Group, 1990. Introduction to ASL with common words, alphabet, and numbers.

Briant, Monta. Baby Sign Language Basics. Hay House, 2004.

Flodin, Mickey. Signing Illustrated. Perigee, 1994. ASL textbook with more than 1,350 signs.

White, Burton, and Joseph Garcia. Sign with Your Baby, revised ed. Northlight Communications, 2002. ASL-based signing; complete learning kits also available.

Children's Books

Holub, Joan. My First Book of Sign Language. Scholastic, 2004. ASL alphabet with one word for each letter and clear pictures.

Wheeler, Cindy. Simple Signs. Puffin (reprint), 1997. Twenty-eight simple signs, with pictures and descriptions, for children ages four to six.

Videos & Kits

Baby See 'N Sign. ASL video series for babies with parental guides (60-plus signs); www.babyseensign.com.

Baby Signs. Book based on invented signs (not ASL), video for babies, video for parents, reference guides, board books, kits; www.babysigns.com.

Blue's Clues. Two episodes about ASL for children ages two to six; www.homevideo. paramount.com.

Say It with a Sign. For babies and parents; teaches ASL-based signs with animation, still images, and spoken words.

Signing Time. www.signingtime.com.

Sign with Me. ASL-based video for children, with a parent guide; www.signwithme.com Sign with Your Baby (Sign2Me). Joseph Garcia's ASL based parent kit; www. sign2me.com.

Talking Hands. Thirty-one hand gestures based on ASL and Signing Exact English (SEE); www.talkinghands.com

We Sign: Babies & Toddlers. ASL instructional and vocabulary set (200-plus words) for parents; www.production-associates.com.

Websites

www.commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/ browse.htm: free ASL on-line dictionary; requires QuickTime 4.0 or better.

www.handspeak.com: ASL onqine diction ary; subscription required.

www.kindersigns.com: on-line learning packages. www.masterstech-home, com/ASLDict.html: free ASL on line dictionary.

www.signwithme.com: small ASL on-line dictionary (70-plus words) and products for sale.

www.smafltalklearning.com: information, resources, workshops.

 
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