Mama Loves Baby Signing Time

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found:

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

To link your own Mama Loves post up, head on over to Julia's blog, Pontifications of a Twin Mom.

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I'm not one of those parents that freely have the TV on for background noise throughout the day.  Truth be told, I'm a little bit of a character snob, and not only am I kinda proud of the fact that my little ones have no idea what/who Yo Gabba Gabba, Wonderpets, and all the other big TV hits for kids are, but I'm also sort of happy that my pair don't have a single character on a piece of clothing in the closet (well, except for the Cars shirt that was a freebie from their cousin, but I haven't actually broken my resolve and had Sam wear it yet).  I really don't care if any other kids wear that kind of stuff, but it just isn't for me. 

I also seriously considered the AAP recommendation for no screen time for children before age two.  Being a teacher, I've seen the effects of an over-plugged in childhood become an epidemic.  Sam and Anna did not watch any TV before they were one.  We did not have it on while they were awake, unless it was for a second to check the weather or score of a game.  However, when Sam and Anna turned a year old, one of their first birthday presents was a DVD of Baby Signing Time. 

I was torn between my resolve for zero TV, and the benefit I saw from watching Baby Signing Time DVDs. Because of my background (my mother took care of a deaf child while I was younger and did baby sign before it was the "in" thing to do, and I took college courses in ASL which I used to incorporate signing into my classroom), I was determined to use baby sign with Sam and Anna.  I was also frustrated that because I am a full-time working outside the home mother, I wouldn't get the time I wanted during the day to reinforce signs with them.  Once I read Ellie's endorsement of Baby Signing Time on her blog, I was hooked and my resolve against zero TV faltered.

Sam and Anna now watch Baby Signing Time DVDs about 3-4 times a week and have since their first birthday.  Each DVD is 30ish minutes long.  They do not watch it every day mostly because we don't have the spare time, and I also do not plug them in and walk away to get stuff done.  I sign with them, sing with them, and help them make the signs with their own bodies.  They love Baby Signing Time.  It helps us get through the sometimes cranky time from home-from-daycare until dinner is ready with out crabby kids.  It helps break up a rainy inside weekend day.  I don't regret changing my mind one bit- I have seen not only their signing vocabulary grow by leaps and bounds with the DVDs (I've given up keeping a count of how many signs they know at this point), but their verbal vocabulary as well.  Between 1 year and 18 months, they were more aware of labels for items for things that they associated signs with.  By seeing them sign while attempting to say a word, I can tell that they are saying things that I probably would otherwise miss.  As they are forming the basis for concepts of print for beginning  to read, they are seeing the word labels for the signs and connecting the written word to its meaning.

The best unknown benefit?  I've discovered a super secret weapon for temper tantrums!  When out in public or at home, if one of them starts to get unhappy, starting to sing and sign the Baby Signing Time theme song will trigger them to stop- it has worked every time I've tried.  They just love watching it that much.