Customer Reviews

Sign With Your Baby Training Video - (ASL) Baby Sign Language (VHS Video only)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I saw Joseph Garcia talking about his research in a television news magazine (20/20 or 60 minutes) while I was pregnant and went online and bought the book, video and flashcard. At, 4 months, I started signing "milk" to my baby whenever we nursed and my husband did the same with a bottle. We didn't expect a response, but it takes no extra time, so we just started it. Now, at 9 months, she uses the milk sign when she's hungry, and can do her own simpler version of "change" when her diaper is wet. When we respond correctly to her signs, she beams, claps her hands and giggles. It's wonderful. The video is simple and a great reference for teaching the signs, this is particularly helpful with some of the signs which cannot be clearly described in a book, and you need to see it in motion, 3-dimensionally.

Although well produced, and I certainly am a believer in the underlying science, the video struck me as something of an infomercial. Not much in the way of actual demonstration of technique. The great bulk seemed to be parents gushing about how wonderful their relationship with their little tykes had become since they started signing. Well and good, but I expected more actual instruction and demonstration.

For example, I don't remember a single example of the gazes. We got Garcia talking to a group about them, but they didn't *show any useful examples*. This is a video. The whole advantage of video is visual content. There should have been more showing and less telling. Leave the telling to the accompanying book.

The section on sign demonstrations at the end is nice, but time-consuming to get to and around on most VCRs.

This video and the book that goes with it is an easy and excellent resource. The video helps caregivers learn how to "talk" to your baby and gives helpful hints and tips to help you and your infant to learn how to interact. It helps in showing you as caregiver that an infant or toddler develops his or her signs as part of a process and to be "watchful" for your child's way of making signs. It helps me as a parent understand and be more aware of my son's needs. We have been signing consistently for a couple of months and our son started making requests for milk, has his own sign for up, and understands "more" as well as "mommy" and "daddy" and "doggy". All of this and he just turned seven months. I am convinced that this will help us understand our child and allow him to communicate with us more clearly even as he learns the spoken word. And just think caregivers and child alike will have gained a new language that is universal!

I am the parent of 15 month old triplets. My husband & I watched this video when they were born & with the help of the video, book & accompanying quick reference guide, began teaching them signing at 7 months. They picked up signing quickly & are learning new words everday - we can barely teach them fast enough! It has removed the frustration all parents must experience before their children are able to speak. We communicate clearly with our triplets constantly & it is fun, too! No parent should be without this invaluable tool.

I am a family physician and the mother of two sons, age 3 years and 16 months. Both were taught to sign using Garcia's video. We started teaching around 7 months and both started signing around 12 months. They learned the basics first (milk, eat, more) and then we added signs. We still sign with the eldest to remind him (thank you, please, sorry) and to give him instruction either from accross the room or while I am on the phone.

Garcia's system works! If you watch the short video through twice, you will learn all the signs you need to plus how to effectively teach them to your child. The video is full of toddlers signing which is entertaining for my children to watch and motivating for me.

Neither of my children are speech delayed. In fact the oldest is advanced in speech. Signing encourages speech development. Children aged 12-18 months know what they want and the word for it, but they can't make their mouths work yet. Signing reduces frustration for parent and toddler. It is a lifesaver to have them communicate what they want and eliminates the pointing and guessing game - do you want milk? water? snack? diaper? up?

I have had dozens of patients use Garcia's method effectively and I usually give his video as a baby shower gift. (which is why I am on this site buying more) My child's playschol also uses signing in the toddler room. I highly recommend it!

PS Only buy the video - you don't really need the whole "kit"

When I started out teaching my baby signs (almost 7 months ago) I started with this system. I wanted my child to learn something that would benefit her now in reducing her frustrations with not being able to communicate verbally as well as in the future by knowing American Sign Language signs that will help her to communicate in another language. It has been such a success. While other children her age (she is now 17 months) are generally crying when they are hungry, thirsty, or need help my daughter simply signs to me and knows I will understand what she needs. We are also able to have "conversations" as she tells me about dogs, birds, etc. that she sees. I couldn't recommend this more! If I could give it 6 stars I would.

I recived this video with the book for my one year old hearing son. He is now 18mos and is signing up a storm. He is even made up a few signs when the ASL was to hard for mom and dad to distinguish from other signs. His dad was very sckeptical that he of his son would remenber the signs. Now he praises the idea. We also have Say sign and sign animals. That our son adores. Easy for mom and dad to learn with too.

We loved this! Our son is now two and it's good enough to come back recommend this. It was wonderful to be able to communicte with him before he could speak. If you do try this, be patient. We were just about to give up when our son started making some sign that we didn't understand. In time we came to realize it was "Water" and ended up buying another book on ASL to supplement our signing. At the very least it helps you know what Steve is doing when he sings those songs on "Blues Clues."

We started this with our third child and wished we had started with our first. The signing made a large difference in the lack of frustration which was evident in trying to understand our baby before she can speak. We really see the difference is the comprehension when she did learn to speak. We attribute this in some part to the signing we did with her early on. It gave her a better apprecation for understanding through communication forms.

I was dissapointed in this video. It drags on and on explaining hand positions that I know are too complex for babies. If your child is deaf and you want to use sign language with them forever this may work for you. For most people I'd suggest the "Baby Signs" system. I found "Baby Signs" to be simple, well researched, and very successful. They have a book and a video that you watch with your infant. My baby loves it and it really works!