Brand new Mommy and Me class Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:00
includes:
Circle Time / Story Time / Music / Free Play
The teaching of American Sign Language will be incorporated into all of the above activities.
Class taught by experienced ASL instructor, Danielle. For more information visit her website.
Scroll down to see all information!
*** Click here to view CBS News video on Signing: ASL video ***
Detailed information about each of the above benefits:
*Reduces frustration:
Children who cannot yet speak are at a loss when it comes to communication. They get easily frustrated when the message they are trying to send is not received. Teaching children to sign reduces that frustration because now they CAN communicate effectively and be understood.
*Increases child's I.Q. and furthers brain development:
Research has shown that children who signed were found to have higher I.Q.'s than children who did not. "ASL uses the eyes to a far greater degree than any spoken language. The eyes develop sooner in young children and when you take in information with your eyes you are using the right brain." All languages are actually stored in the left brain, but when babies learn sign language both the right brain and the left are used. "This is a wonderful advantage because you are using both hemispheres of the brain, building more synapses in the brain."-Dr. Marilyn Daniels author of Dancing With Words: Signing for Hearing Children's Literacy
*Encourages use and development of fine motor skills:
The language articulators for ASL are the hands, mouth, fingers, face. But the language articulators for spoken language are mouth, tongue, larynx, teeth, etc. The articulators for ASL are developed in children long before those for spoken language. The children will be drawn to ASL because of the movements.
*Helps children learn to speak FASTER!!
Children learn to crawl before they can walk. Think of signing as the stepping stone to speech. When parents sign with their children, they use speech simultaneously, ex. "Are you 'hungry'? Do you want a 'cookie"? They don't just sign 'hungry' and 'cookie' without using them in context. This encourages children to want to speak because they are getting so much positive feedback from their parents.
*Increases child's self-esteem and enhances bond between parents and children:
As adults, there is nothing like feeling that someone truly understands you. Same is true for children. When children can communicate to their parents through sign, and the parents can respond, there is no greater joy for those children. Think of using ASL as a "secret language". You will be able to share a special activity that will bring you closer together.
*Give them a skill they can use later in life:
ASL is the fourth most used
language in the U.S. Today, many high schools and colleges offer ASL as a foreign
language. Why not give children a head start in their academic pursuits.
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Classes will be on Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:00 starting in February, 2004. The classes include fun songs and games incorporating ASL and free time for the children while the caregivers learn the suggested signs for the week. Handouts will be provided illustrating the signs we learn each week. The children will have a lot of fun while learning!
NEXT SESSION APRIL 13 - MAY 18, 2004 - NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS!