While attending the University of Alaska, Joseph Garcia became fascinated with his observations that babies of his deaf friends were fast on the trail of becoming sign language “experts” by the age of 9 months! Conversely, his observations also noted babies of hearing parents were not communicating much at 9 months of age. Hence, the topic for his thesis was born.
Garcia’s own infant son’s became the “test subjects” that eventually developed his “Sign With Your Baby” and “Sign 2 Me” multimedia programs based on American Sign Language (ASL).
During the same time period Linda Acredolo had observed her daughter Katie watching the fish swimming in the fish tank at the pediatrician office. Katie walked up to the tank to take a closer look and started to blow. Her mother became puzzled at the behavior. Once they were home Katie was put down for a nap in her crib. Over the crib hung a fish mobile. Linda leaned in to “activate” the mobile with a gentle blow. Linda immediately made the connection of Katie “communicating” with the fish at the pediatrician’s office.
Acredolo and her research partner, Goodwyn began to study the impact of signing with babies as compared to those babies who did not sign. Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, they were able to identify progress at ages 2,3, and 8 years-old. Results proved signers out-performed non-signers in many areas of cognition and language development.
From these two significant research studies and sign language programs
many grass route baby sign language programs have emerged. Most of
the current programs of today are based on ASL and facilitate verbal
development as an end result goal.
Without the statistical research from Acredolo and Goodwyn, we may not be aware of the positive impact the introduction of sign language to a baby’s cognitive and language development.
Tiny Talking Hands has taken this concept one step further. Based on ASL and theories of Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapy centers itself around the concept of function. When a person has a limitation, regardless if it is physical, psychological or cognitive, the question that is always on everyone’s mind is “Can they…..” The quote is usually filled in with an aspect of prior function in their life that they now either cannot do or it is limited in some particular aspect. Can they walk, get dressed, drive a car, go back to work, sign their name and so on. Just as the researcher’s earlier mentioned Penny Haussmann, Occupational Therapist for over 14 years, became intrigued with baby sign language with the birth of her daughter.
At first Haussmann’s interest centered on the benefits ASL would provide to her child. As the years past some benefits became apparent. At 18 months of age, her daughter had a vocabulary of a 2 year-old. At 3 years of age she was speaking in 7-8 word sentences. Due to the amazing results, noticed in her own child, Haussmann founded Tiny Talking Hands to teach other parent’s the simple techniques that would provide lifetime developmental benefits to their own children. Always an occupational therapist, always on the hunt for creative treatment mediums, Haussmann began to integrate the same techniques used to teach her daughter, with her client’s.
The practice of integrating ASL tips and techniques into everyday occupational therapy treatment has become standard for Haussmann. Haussmann has utilized these techniques with all ages and a variety of medical conditions to enhance the ability to communicate. The ability to communicate can profoundly impact one’s view of the world and of their self-worth. In addition to continuing to provide this education to parents and grandparents, Tiny Talking Hands provides continuing education courses of study to physical therapist, occupational therapist and daycare providers. Because in the end it is all about making a positive impact!
To find out how you can begin your personal journey with baby sign language you may contact Penny Haussmann at: penny@tinytalkinghands.com or visit http://www.tinytalkinghands.com
Here you go….. here are some of my favorite Easter crafts and activities to do with my children for the Easter Holidays. Kids love the Holidays for many reasons. But, I like to remind my children that bottom line the Holidays are about "Family". So, remind your [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "20 Egg-sellent Easter Crafts & Activities for Kids", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2008/03/21/20-easter-crafts-and-activities-for-kids/" });
St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17th this year which is in another couple of days. In honor of the festivities I thought I would list a tons of super fun crafts to do with your kids to celebrate St. Patty’s Day. So, without further ado….. feast your eyes [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Kids", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2008/03/14/st-patricks-day-crafts-for-kids/" });
It is December 11th and it is the 8th and final day of Hanukkah 2007. Before Hanukkah was over I wanted to make sure to offer my viewers tons of links to Hanukkah / Chanukah Crafts and Activities to enjoy. Each link takes you to a site that will [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "14 Hanukkah Crafts and Activities to enjoy with your Preschooler", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/12/11/14-hanukkah-crafts-activities-for-preschoolers/" });
I came across this Website today that I just had to share with my Preschool Education Blog viewers. Tiny Prints is donating up to $50,000 this Holiday Season to Children’s Charities. And, they are asking the World Wide Web to help them decide which Children’s Charities a portion [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Tiny Prints - It’s Free. It’s Easy. It’s Charitable!!", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/11/14/tiny-prints-charity/" });
Fall may be a terrific time of year for fun crafts but you don’t want to be so focused on the fun that you forget about the great educational opportunities that the season presents. Sure, it’s great to carve pumpkins and make Thanksgiving turkeys out of construction paper during [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Educational Fall Activities", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/11/07/educational-fall-activities/" });
Do you use the terms “fall” and “autumn” interchangeably? If so, you are just like most other people in America who agree that the two words are meant to mean the same thing (the season that comes after summer and before winter). But there is another school [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "How to Explain to your Preschooler if it is Autumn or Fall", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/28/how-to-explain-to-preschooler-if-it-is-autumn-or-fall/" });
Fall is a terrific time to incorporate leaf crafts into kids’ daily activities. You can take kids outside to get some fresh air and physical activity while they collect the leaves. Then you can come indoors again and keep them busy with the crafts. Leaf crafts are [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Leaf Crafts for Kids", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/21/leaf-crafts-for-kids/" });
Your children are going to inherit the earth that we are living on today so you obviously want it to be as healthy as it can possibly be for them. Although it’s great that you’re doing your part to take care of the environment, it’s equally as [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Teaching your Child about the Environment - Blog Action Day 2007", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/15/teaching-your-child-about-the-environment/" });
October just might be the most fun month there is as far as fall preschool themes go. It’s early enough in the year that there are still plenty of outdoor activities that can be done with preschoolers. It’s also early enough in the year that you’re not [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Preschool October Themes - As Fall Continues", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/10/preschool-october-themes-as-fall-continues/" });
What better time to teach your child about fall than when we’re right about to enter the midst of it? Fall is a great teaching tool because it applies to so many different areas of life. Not only do kids learn about the seasons, but they also [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "How to Teach your Child about Fall", url: "http://www.abchomepreschool.com/PreschoolEducationBlog/2007/10/04/how-to-teach-your-child-about-fall/" });