Product Details

• Directors: gregory spence
• Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: October 15, 2001
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0971533822
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #349,306 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Director

My wife read "Baby Signs: How To Talk With Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk" when she was pregnant. I was skeptical, but we started using Baby Signs for our son when he was six or seven months old. His first sign was "moon". It was a summer night and we were out in the backyard, enjoying a barbecue when our son looked up, then made the sign for "moon". There, indeed, was a beautiful full moon, just like the one in his favorite book! It was a revelation. He soon began to use signs to tell us if he was hungry or thirsty, his feelings, even where he wanted to go on his walks! I had the reaction all Baby Signs parents have: I was amazed at how much my baby knew and how tuned in he was to the world around him. He even made up a few signs and taught them to us (something I thought was a sign of his personal genius but that I've learned is quite common with signing babies). Using Baby Signs will give you a tremendous amount of respect for your baby, and that fact alone makes this one of the most worthwhile things you can do with your child. Eventually, I contacted the authors of "Baby Signs" because I wanted to buy a baby sign language video to watch with my son. When they informed me that they hadn't made one yet I began clearing my schedule. The project was much more than I had bargained for. Creating the animation, shooting the live action and animal footage... everything took three times longer than anticipated, but the effort has been incredibly rewarding. Throughout the process, I sent copies of the work-in-progress to families with infants. All of these babies have learned to sign and sign fluently! I really believe in this. I know it works, I know it can change people's lives and that's a great feeling. Try it! I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments: [e-mail]

About the Authors

Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn are internationally known scholars in the field of child development and pioneers in the field of non-verbal communication with infants. After discovering the "Baby Signs" phenomenon in the early 1980's, Linda and Susan launched over 20 years of research on non-verbal communication with infants and its positive effects -- effects that their studies show reach into elementary school and beyond. For more on Linda and Susan's research, go to:

BABYSIGNS.COM.

For this project, Linda and Susan teamed with established film production team (and enthusiastic Baby Signs parents!) Lisa Onodera and Greg Spence. Lisa's producing credits include "Picture Bride" and "The Debut." Spence's filmmking experience includes writing and directing two feature films and a career as an executive at a major U.S. film production and distribution company. The music in "Baby Signs" (Bach and Mozart pieces, as well as an original score) was arranged by composer John M. Davis, whose son, Theo, uses his Baby Signs to make French/English puns.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baby Signs is Incredible!, October 26, 2001

By 

Lowell Rottenberg (Des Moines, IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Signs (VHS Tape)

This video is one of a kind! My wife bought baby signs about a month ago for our 11 month old boy and I have to tell you at first I had my doubts. We started showing it to him and within days he was signing! Our 4 year old daughter loves it too. They watch it together and play games making up signs for things. One of the great things about this video is the music. A lot of kids videos have repetitious music that can be annoying but not baby signs, I should know too since my kids watch it at least once a day. I even find myself singing along. The greatest thing though is the first time your baby signs to you. Being able to communicate with your baby is priceless.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Babies Love this Video!, November 8, 2001

By 

"erenr" (seattle wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Signs (VHS Tape)

There are not many videos directed at babies, and of those not many are quality productions. and This isn't Disney - it is not only entertaining but so useful - To be able to communicate with little ones so early is incredible and both parents, caregivers and babies enjoy learning this way. Thank you to the authors and producers for this wonderful approach. It really works!

22 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as "Sign with Your Baby", July 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Baby Signs (VHS Tape)

I bought this video for my son, who was about 14 months old, and getting good at American Sign Language (ASL). We had started him on sign language, using Joseph Garcia's "Sign with Your Baby" kit, around age 8 months and it was fantastic. I wholeheartedly endorse using sign language with babies. I am convinced that a big reason my son seldom fusses or has temper tantrums is that he can tell us what he wants. He's just now beginning to use several spoken words and phrases, so we gained at least 5 months of communication with him. He still uses signs, and can even communicate with other adults and kids who know ASL.

I want to be clear that it's not the concept of baby signs that I dislike; it's the approach taken by this particular video. It's important to know that this video does NOT teach AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, but rather a "made-up" system of signs. I didn't realize this till the first time I watched it with my son, who was confused because he had learned the ASL signs for several words and was now being told something different on this video! I'd purchased the video because I thought he could learn new words and have fun watching other kids use signs. I was really disappointed to find that it wasn't ASL at all. I agree with a previous reviewer who states that it's not necessary (and in fact it's simply silly) to teach your kid a made-up language when a real one, which isn't too complicated for infants and toddlers, already exists. Better to teach him something he can use with other people (like teachers, friends, relatives, etc.) who don't happen to own the same video!

If you want to start your child on sign language, I recommend Joseph Garcia's book/video. We've given the kit to friends as a shower gift and I'll definitely use it for my next child.