Toddler Interpreter, A Parent’s Guide to Baby Sign Language for Hearing Babies and Toddlers - Book Review And Giveaway

At ten CJ’s vocabulary is still limited. He tries really hard and he really wants to talk but sometimes it isn’t easy to understand him. CJ has done some simple signing since he was about a year old. It’s at times like this that I wish we, and the school, had begun sign language much earlier. It is now my opinion that basic signing should be taught to all children when school begins. If everyone had some knowledge of basic sign language it would be easier for people with different abilities to communicate.

It’s become known that babies are receptive to learning sign language long before they can speak. I think it’s terrific that there are parents teaching their children signing early on. It’s not hard to get started, there are even books that will help you. One of these books is Toddler Interpreter, A Parent’s Guide to Baby Sign Language for Hearing Babies and Toddlers by Ian Creaser and Lisa Baade BSc, which I was invited to review.

Toddler Interpreter (ISBN: 978-0-646-50882-5) is a 120 page book that serves as an introduction to signing with your child. There are sections of the book explaining why signing is beneficial for you and your child, when and how to teach signing, and the stages of teaching from this book. The signs within the book are classified in five stages, with twelve signs in each stage.

I think the book is well suited for any parent wanting to introduce signs to their child. When I first glanced at the book I didn’t understand how or why the signs were classified in the stages that they’re in. It turns out that they’re listed this way because it fits well with the way psychologists feel children of this age learn. I really like that the book offers a simple, clear color picture of a sign being made as well as a brief written description of how to make it. I also appreciated the picture index of all signs at the back of the book, listed in alphabetical order for quick reference.

The book offers a number of reasons why you should use sign language with your child including facilitation of communication at a young age, bonding, improved social skills, stimulation of the mind and use of body language. Those are all valid reasons but I’d like to offer two more. One - If you wait for your child to develop and speak according to a typical timeline and they don’t then you’ve wasted a lot of precious time that you could have spent teaching and learning alternate communication skills. Two. The comprehension and use of simple signs is more than just a way for children to make themselves understood. It’s also a way for children to understand others who cannot communicate. Know what I’m saying?

For More Information on the book visit ToddlerInterpreter.com

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US addresses only please. This contest will end on Wednesday 07/22/09 at 11:59 pm est.  If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won.  Good luck to everyone! Members of my own family are not eligible to win but are still welcome to leave a comment.

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Filed Under: Education • Family • Giveaways • House and home • Reviews

Tags: books, cj, sign language