Yesterday evening, the 4th of July, we were strolling through our neighborhood with our child, Matthew, who was riding his bike - 3-wheel trike. It was nearing dusk and excited kids were outside with their sparklers and other fireworks.
We could hear the beginning pops, booms and thunderous noises of fireworks during our walk.
At one point, while Matthew was riding his trike next to us, I noticed that he made his right hand into a fist (thumb sticking out) and raised his fist straight up by his face (holding it tightly and shaking his fist slightly). I haven't ever seen him do that before and thought it was unusual. But he stopped and went back to riding his bike.
Several more times, Matthew's raised shaking fist went up in the air by his face. I got a little concerned and wondered why.
Then all of a sudden it hit me that Matthew had made up a sign for fireworks!!!
His raised shaking fist corresponded with each time he would hear the noises of fireworks.
Matthew has Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum and he is non-verbal. With the exception of a handful of words, he communicates through a Dynavox V communication device and through some sign language, too.
BIG, beautiful fireworks were going off up in the sky (a few streets away from us) that caught Matthew's attention (and our's, too). They were spectacular! Matthew was enthralled!
Between the few big booms of exploding colorful sparkles against a darkened sky and the two groups of kids on our street (to our left and right), busily putting on their own show, we were right in the middle of a fireworks display that we weren't even expecting.
As we headed home, I went straight to the computer to look up the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "fireworks" because I didn't know the real sign for it.
Although I loved that he created his own made-up sign.
I wanted to know the real sign and I want him to know it, too.
My search for how to sign the word "fireworks" led me to an awesome baby sign language website with free video demonstrations that I want to share with you.
This is a favorite sign language video of my child, Matthew, who has complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.
We have owned the Baby Einstein-My First Signs DVD for several years and I like it as much as Matthew does.
Even though this video demonstrates and teaches beginning signs and Matthew knows a lot of them he still chooses this video and loves watching it.
Part of the video is set to classical music. Plus Baby Einstein-My First Signs DVD gives you the option to learn sign language in English, French or Spanish.
What I love about this particular sign language video is that Marlee Matlin, Actress from the movie: Children of a Lesser God demonstrates each sign. Marlee Matlin, as most of you know, is deaf. She is quite expressive in speaking with her eyes and her whole body as she brings to life and demonstrates each sign being taught. I loved learning sign language from this video.
Baby Einstein-My First Signs DVD is divided into four categories:
baby signs "eat" Some kids who have Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum may be delayed in their speech or may have very little verbal speech. Sign Language can be a wonderful way to help give a child the ability to communicate.
In June of this year I did a post about Sign Language. My son, Matthew, who has complete ACC is non- verbal with only a handful of words. His main form of communication is through the use of an augmentative communication device called a DynaVox V and through the use of sign language.
One of the best and easiest ways that we both learn sign language is by watching sign language DVDs for kids.
I found Baby See 'n Sign Volumes I and II a few years ago and we find these DVDs to be helpful in teaching us many different signs.
Baby See 'N Sign Volume I is divided into seven categories and contains about 60 signs:
Let's Get Dressed: bath, shirt, hat, shoes Food: milk, banana, cereal, apple Chow Time: eat, spoon, juice, cup Play Time: play, ball, boat, book Animal Pals: bird, duck, bear, cat Down on the Farm: cow, horse, chicken, pig Away We Go: car, walk, airplane, train
Each category in Volume I contains about eight signs to learn. I have listed only a few of the signs taught in each category.
Baby See 'n Sign Volume II is divided into seven categories (plus Bonus Signs) and contains over 100 signs:
note: the sign for "giraffe" in this DVD is not demonstrated the way that we have learned the sign. Each category in Volume II contains about sixteen or more signs to learn. I have listed only a few of the signs taught in each category.
Matthew likes Volume II the best. He will sometimes watch this DVD without me and while I was watching the DVD to write down some of the signs, so I could share them here, I discovered that Matthew knows more signs that I wasn't aware he knew. He really surprised me by making the signs right along with the words "star" and "towel" and a few others. I had no idea he even knew how to make those signs.
The signs are taught through the use of displaying real life objects up close on the full screen. They show babies, toddlers and small kids throughout much of the videos. The sign is demonstrated by an adult, Johanna Larson-Muhr, who is a American Sign Language instructor.
Each word is shown a total of three times by showing a full screen picture (that is different each time) representing the word.
The written word is always shown with the picture and the word is verbally spoken.
After each picture is shown you will then see the American Sign Language instructor appear on the screen to demonstrate the word.
Each word is shown a total of three times with 3 different pictures, the word is spoken each time and demonstrated using sign language three times.
There is a lot of repetition involved in this video. Repetition is a key ingredient that many kids who have ACC require.
Baby See 'n Sign is available in both DVD and VHS format.
this video clip does not come close to representing the quality of the DVDs and what they offer, in my opinion. The DVD movie does not move across the screen the way this video clip shows and is not blurry. The DVD has excellent picture quality. Order Baby See 'n Sign They are offering free shipping.
Introducing your child to sign language can be a fun and very rewarding experience.
There are several methods of teaching sign language to a child. Finding the right method depends upon each child.
When my child was very little he was introduced to some sign language by his Early Intervention specialists. He eventually learned the sign for "more" with A LOT of repetition and teaching. He also learned how to sign "eat" through the use of sign language.
I remember being very concerned when Matthew was a small toddler/child that the introduction of sign language might hinder Matthew's ability to develop verbal language due to his diagnosis of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. His learning style worked best if he used one method at a time with A LOT of repetition.
It was my fear and concern that because he is missing his corpus callosum and because he takes a very long time to learn something using one method that he might be stuck in a pattern of only understanding and learning language soley through the means of sign language. It was a very real concern for me back then when Matthew was much younger.
I talked with other people and also other parents about this concern of mine and found that other parents who used sign language with their children who have special needs reported that it did not hinder or stop their child from learning verbal language.
I slowly began to realize that learning sign language would not delay or stop Matthew from learning verbal language and that in fact it could very well help Matthew to develop verbal language.
Sign language did not come easily for Matthew though. He did learn a few signs over the years and learned a few more in school when he got older.
Because he wasn't taking well to sign language and it was not his most effective method of communication, we chose to begin exploring augmentative communication devices because Matthew is highly motivated to push a picture button and hear a word being said. He learns best through both visual and auditory together so we chose an augmentative communication device (with the help of his Speech-Language Pathologist) and he thrived using this type of communication. He still uses an augmentative communication device today.
When I removed Matthew from public school in his 8th grade year and chose to homeschool him, he began to show an interest in sign language again after so many years had passed of not using more than a few signs.
It surprised me and made me realize how important it is to never close the door on a child who has ACC when it comes to learning something new.
I was thrilled with Matthew's new interest in learning sign language and so we began our adventure learning sign language together through the use of sign language DVDs.
For my child, Matthew, who has complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum he responds best to learning sign language through DVDs, through hand-over-hand teaching and through my own modeling of sign language while we both watch the sign language DVDs together.
I borrowed two Baby Signing Time DVDs from the Library to try with Matthew and he really liked them. In fact, we both like Baby Signing Time DVDs so much that we bought:
ASL signs taught in this DVD: Shoes - Socks - Hat - Coat - Please - Thank You - Sorry - Car - Train - Bus - Bike - Airplane - Boat - Ball - Doll - Bear - Wash Hands - Soap - Water - Sleep - Bath - Sleep Clothes/ Pajamas - Brush Teeth - Books - Blanket.
Video Clip of Baby Signing Time Volume 2:
What do I like about Baby Signing Time and Signing Time DVDs?
The DVDs are fun! They help my child, Matthew, who has complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, learn sign language. They are full of music and songs. The signs are taught through the use of demonstration by Rachel, by showing babies and kids demonstrating the signs, through the use of reinforcement of both drawings and real pictures of the sign that is being taught and there is a lot of repetition.
I also like Signing Time videos because they help not only Matthew learn sign language but they also help me learn right along with him! It's great!
In fact, one of the words Matthew can sign is PLAY. If he hears the word play or hears me spell it outloud by saying: "Matthew: what is P-L-A-Y?" He does the sign for "play" with a smile on his face.
We typically watch the Signing Time and Baby Signing Time DVDs together and Matthew learns the signs best when we watch the videos together and practice the signs but he also enjoys watching them by himself sometimes.
A few months ago when I walked in his room I saw him watching Signing Time Volume 7-Leah's Farm at a section where they were teaching the sign for "turtle" so I asked Matthew...how do you say turtle? (thinking he wouldn't know it because I haven't really helped him with it) but he looked at me and he made the sign for "turtle" which requires both hands to be used together and I stood there shocked and amazed!! Wow!
Thank you Signing Time for making such a wonderful product that helps us both learn American Sign Language and helps my child who is non-verbal have another way to communicate in addition to his augmentative communication device.
Rachel Coleman is the co-founder and creator of Signing Time. She is also the mom of two children who have special needs. Her first child, Leah, was born deaf. Her second child, Lucy, was born with cerebral palsy and spina bifida. Read more about Rachel and her family.
Matthew has learned approximately 23 signs and he continues to learn new signs. :)
It's a great feeling when I see my child, Matthew, using the signs he learns and know that he understands what he is saying and is able to express himself through the use of American Sign Language (ASL).
Definitely check your local library and borrow Signing Time or Baby Signing Time DVDs before you buy to try them out with your child.
Be sure to check out Signing Time for more information about their wonderful DVDs.
The corpus callosum is the largest commissural pathway in the brain consisting of over 200 million nerve fibers. It allows for communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The corpus callosum is the largest single structure in the brain. Agenesis=Absence or incomplete development of an organ or body part.
I am blessed to have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom and I homeschool my child, Matthew. Matthew was born with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC). The corpus callosum is the middle section of the brain...and it connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows for communication between the two sides of the brain.
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