Many pre-school teachers are already singing “Five Little Monkeys” with their students and are hoping to make it more engaging and useful by adding sign language signs while singing. By doing so, the signs can help children better understand the meaning of the song, learn and easily remember new vocabulary words, and have fun while doing so. The following are some of the signs I suggest you use and teach to your students so they can sign along as they sing: Five – 5 fingers up
Four – 4 fingers up
Three – 3 fingers up (thumb, pointer, middle)
Two – 2 fingers up
One – 1 finger up
*For all numbers (up to 5), your palm should face towards you
Monkeys – scratch sides like monkey
Jumping – bounce 2 fingers on the palm of your other hand as if your fingers are legs jumping
Bumped head – make sign for hurt by touching pointer fingers together by head
Call – make phone shape with thumb and pinky and hold up to ear and move forward
Doctor – bend one hand a little and act like you are taking your pulse at your wrist
No – pointer and middle finger snap down to the thumb The following are the lyrics for “Five Little Monkeys:”
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed Continue the song counting down from five through one, until no monkeys remain. Remember, you can find out more information about signing with your baby on my website. I have a free video where I reveal my #1 secret on how you can drastically reduce your baby’s crying and temper tantrums which you find at www.babysignlanguageonline.com For more ideas, visit www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog

Educational Trainer, Author – Benefits of using sign language with hearing students and young childrenArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/five-little-monkeys-in-sign-language-1717117.html

Using American Sign Language signs is a great way to keep children focused while keeping their interest both in the classroom and at home. Children usually have fun when they learn new songs. You can even sing songs that children already know and teach them signs to add while they sing. In the summertime, one particular song that would be great to sing is one that many children may already know: “Oh, Mister Sun.” The words you would sign in this song are sun, shine down, tree, children, please, and play. To sign sun, draw a circle in the air with your finger and then open your hand to form rays with your fingers. To sign shine down, wiggle your fingers as you bring your hands towards you to act as the sun’s rays shining down on you. To sign tree, hold one hand up, your arm bent at the elbow, and wiggle your hand. Children is signed by acting as if you are patting children’s heads in front of you. To sign please, rub your hand in circles on your chest. To sign play, form the letter Y with both of your hands. This is done by holding your thumb and pinkies out, with the rest of your fingers down. Then you will wiggle your hands to sign play. The following are the lyrics to “Oh Mister Sun.” You can teach this song and the signs to your children or students (sign the words in italics): Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun
Won’t you please shine down on me?
Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree
Oh, these little children are asking you
If you could please come out
So they can play with you
Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun
Won’t you please shine down on
Please shine down on
Please shine down on me Go ahead and teach this song along with the signs to your children or students and add more joy to music time in your day. Let’s all start enjoying the sun this summer! For more ideas on signing with your baby, visit http://www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog

Educational Trainer, Author – Benefits of using sign language with hearing students and young childrenArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/baby-sign-language-first-signs-1603428.html

Once you have decided that you would like to use American Sign Language with your child or students, many questions come to mind about how you should begin in order to be successful. One of the most common questions asked is, “Which hand should I sign with?”

The answer will be one that you like as it is simply a matter of preference. If you are right handed, sign with your right hand and if you are left handed, sign with your left hand. Since you will probably be most comfortable signing with your dominant hand, anyway, this works out for the best. The only time this would not apply, is if there is a two-handed sign that is being performed, then of course you will use both hands to make the sign.

I have only seen one instance where using your left hand may interfere with the understanding of a sign. This would be when signing the letters of the alphabet. Since many letters do take the form of their written counter-part, children will absorb this information as they see it signed. For example, the letter C is performed by curving your fingers into a half circle. When you perform this with your right hand, your child will see the letter as it is written correctly. However, when this letter is signed with your left hand, your child or students will see the letter as if it were backwards. Therefore, it is your choice whether or not this would be a significant problem that you should sign with your right hand. The letter “L” also falls into this category.

If you haven’t begun signing because you are feeling unsure about which hand to sign with, you now know that you can use your most comfortable hand – which is your dominant hand. Go ahead and begin signing with whichever hand you feel comfortable with and just go ahead and get started. Good Luck!

For more ideas on signing with your baby, visit http://www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog

Educational Trainer, Author – Benefits of using sign language with hearing students and young childrenArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/baby-sign-language-which-hand-1565741.html

It can be frustrating for both parents and their child when they lack communication with each other before their baby can speak. American Sign Language can be a great way to communicate with your baby before they can speak verbally with you. As a parent, it will help you to understand your child’s needs and wants more easily.  Because of this, your child will be less frustrated and happier, and so will you.

If you have decided that you would like to use American Sign Language with your baby, but don’t know where to start, do not be discouraged. It is simple! There are four signs that would be a great starting point to learn and teach to your baby. Milk, eat, more, finished. This signs will help you to begin communicating with your baby about their most basic needs.

To sign milk, open and close your hand, similar to the movement when you milk a cow. For eat, touch your hand to mouth as if you are holding a piece of food. This is also the sign used for food. To sign more, bring both of your hands together and touch your fingertips. This is a very popular sign and is usually a baby’s first sign. To perform finished/all done, hold both hands above your shoulders and flip them at the same time so palms end facing outward. When you first begin signing with your baby, keep in mind that they may not perform the signs exactly correct, and that is okay. For example, when some babies sign more, they sometimes clap their hands. You will simply need to learn your child’s way of performing each sign, but make sure that you continue to sign it the correct way,  eventually they will sign it the correct way.

Now that you have learned some signs to get you started, go ahead and start signing with your baby. It is never too soon or too late to start communicating with your child. You will learn that it can be easy and fun for both you and your baby. For more ideas on signing with your baby, visit http://www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog

Educational Trainer, Author – Benefits of using sign language with hearing students and young childrenArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/baby-sign-language-first-signs-1547005.html

No parent wants to see their child hurt, and if your child is hurt, you want to be able to help them. Unfortunately, babies can not always communicate if they are hurt or where they are hurt. Because of this, babies and toddlers will cry when something is wrong. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine the reason they are crying and parents play the guessing game to figure out what is wrong. American Sign Language can help in this situation.

Before babies can verbally tell you if they are hurt, they can communicate this by signing. To sign hurt, touch your two pointer fingers together. If you can teach this sign to your child, they will be able to sign if they are hurt or not. Even more importantly, they will be able to tell you where they are hurt. For example, if they sign “hurt” near their ear, it may mean they have an ear infection.

To make it easier for your baby to learn this sign, you can practice on stuffed animals or toys. For example, you can make believe a teddy bear bumped his head and then explain that he hurt his head, while signing the word as well. Your child will begin to understand, and they will use the sign when they are hurt themselves. Continue to use the sign whenever you refer to someone or something that is hurt, whether it is something on a television show, in a book, etc. Soon, you will see how quickly your child learns the sign, and how much easier it will be to help them when they are hurt.

For more information/tips/ideas on signing with your baby, visit http://www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog

Educational Trainer, Author – Benefits of using sign language with hearing students and young childrenArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/baby-sign-language-sign-for-hurt-1546585.html