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Baby Signing - Sign Language through Play
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Hearing or deaf babies benefit from sign language FAQS
Q: Why would hearing parents buy their hearing children Sign Language toys & games?
A: Babies and toddlers will usually sign earlier, and have a larger sign vocabulary than spoken vocabulary. Using sign language with babies and toddlers can help minimize some of the communication frustrations. Instead of crying they can sign "milk", "tired", "hurt". We all learn from what's in our environment. Toys are a large part of the "tools" for learning for infants and children. Sign language toys are a great compliment to Baby sign DVDs.
Q: What kind of toys benefit deaf or hard of hearing children best?
A:  Toys including lights or visual feedback, volume control, and interesting textures. It would be most appropriate if the language on the toy/game included english or your families language and sign language. Right now there are so few sign language toys available and many people think why do we need a special sign language toy? I say because if you are learning a language as an infant or young child toys are the most effective, fun, attention getting, and hands-on tools to assist in the process, especially as a compliment to the various Dvds.
 
For more information on this topic click: http://www.afb.org/
Q: What kind of toys benefit blind or low vision children best?
A: Toys included one or more of the following: sounds and interesting textures and surfaces that provided sensory stimulation. Also, children with moderate visual impairments can enjoy toys that include bright lights. For a fully accessible version of this Guide for visually impaired readers please visit www.afb.org/toyguide.asp.
Q: What is fingerspelling and what makes it different than sign language?
A: Fingerspelling is using sign language alphabet to spell out words.There are English words that don't have signs in American Sign Language (ASL).
Q: What is Deaf Culture?
A: First of all there is the "medical model" and the "cultural model." Most hearing people think of deaf or hard of hearing people as having a disability or handicap, which is the medical model. This is deaf with a small "d". Then there is the cultural perspective; a group of persons who share a common means of communication (sign language) that provides the basis for group cohesion and identity. This is Deaf with a capital "D".