Customer Reviews

Signing Time! Volume 2: Playtime Signs VHS

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The "Signing Time" video series is targeted to young hearing children (intended audience: 0-5 years), though it is a wonderfully non-threatening way for persons of any age to learn sign language. Parents don't need to already know sign language in order to help their children learn the signs in the videos. The videos are quite thorough - with each sign being demonstrated once by Rachel (mother of a deaf child, and co-creator of the series), and then multiple times in a variety of situations by a variety of children. (Note that volumes 2 and 3 are a little less repetitious than Volume 1 - for better or worse, depending on your preference.) The narration on the videos is done primarily by young children. The signs are linked well with the objects, emotions, etc., that they represent. The children in the videos are "real" - demonstrating the signs in their own imperfect ways, according to their abilities - much the same as when children learn to speak with their voices. There is cute animation and fun background music with sound effects that make the videos pleasing to watch.

I purchased volumes 1-3 of the Signing Time video series a few weeks ago (along with the music CD containing all the songs in these volumes). While volume 1 ("My First Signs" - with 18 signs) is very good, volumes 2 ("Playtime Signs" - with 28 signs) and 3 ("Everyday Signs" - with 32 signs) are even better. For starters, I thought Rachel looked too serious and tense when she demonstrated signs in the first video, whereas she appears more relaxed and inviting in the newer videos. Perhaps more importantly, though, the latter two videos make much broader use of Rachel's musical talents, with catchy, original songs sprinkled throughout the video (as opposed to only an opening and closing song in the first video). Another change is that in the 2nd and 3rd videos, words are presented in groups (e.g., hot & cold, friend & play, etc) rather than individually. I was disappointed that there isn't a parent's guide with the videos, but I have found helpful information on the signingtime.com website. If you need to be convinced of the benefits of teaching sign language to your hearing child, or you want to see clips from the videos, check out that website.

We bought the 3 volume set along with the music CD when Leah's mom was featured on "Good Morning America" about 1 1/2 years ago. My girls (2 and 5) still just love them. They ask for them over the typical Disney and Nickolodean videos we have. Everyone who has ever watched them is so captivated by the original music, the animation, and all the different children signing. I actually forget there is a purpose to watching them too. As far as content, the videos contain what I'd consider the most, needed, important words that babies and children would use (except "please" and "thank you").

I also love the fact that they give many different examples of the word being signed like "water". They show an ocean, a child drinking from a water fountain, Leah splashing in animated water puddles, a baby taking a bath, children in a swimming pool, etc. as well as lots of children showing the sign for "water".

This video is such a fun way for children (and parents)to learn sign language and we have loaned them out on numerous occasions to nieces, nephews, and friends so that they can learn and enjoy them too. Everyone loves them!

One thing about these videos that I have not seen mentioned yet in the reviews is that actual written word is flashed on the screen before they actually go into all of many different children doing the sign. Great pre-reading and word recognition exercise as far as this mom is concerned. It seems like they thought of everything. I just wish there were more then 3 out there.

This is an excellent video. The first one was good and this one is even better. It ties words together so that children can begin to use two and three signs in a sentence. For instance- Share and please are tied together. The words are flashed up on the screen and then the adult shows the children how to make the sign. Then you will see several different children and several examples of this items and then the adult will show the sign again. There is more singing and more signing in this video.

We have learned a lot as a family with this one.

Enjoy.

Singing time has been awesome for me and my son. He is 14 mths and loves watching it. He knows about 30 signs and hope he will learn more everyday. Anyone with children should buy this video all ages like it. I have a 6 yr old that asks to watch it.

Teaching a young child sign language can eliminate temper tantrums, boost their IQs, enhance their motor skills, and of course it allows them to be able to communicate with deaf children and adults. So if you're going to put forth the time and effort to teach your child a language with these kinds of advantages, you want to make sure you've got the best teaching resource that there is today. And that would be SIGNING TIME! Your kids can "come and play" with Leah (who is deaf) and Alex (who can hear)in their magical treehouse where they will learn American Sign Language in an easy and fun way. Leah and Alex, along with Leah's mom, Rachel Coleman, model all the essential playtime signs (please, thank you, your turn, my turn, etc.)that a child needs to communicate. Combine that with fun, original songs written and performed by Rachel and colorful, attention-grabbing animation, and you've got a recipe for success!

I studied ASL in college and was looking for a way to help my children learn a language that I have come to love. Signing Time has been an answer. I think the highlights in Playtime Signs are the manner signs and the toy signs. These really helped me teach my children to be respectful and to share.

We discovered Signing Time while researching ASL (American Sign Language) as a 2nd language for our children. We knew we wanted to teach ASL as a 2nd language because of the many benefits such as earlier communication. You can communicate with your baby as young as 8 months old, maybe even younger. What a gift to know what your child needs before they can tell you with spoken words! For more information on the benefits of ASL check out the Signing Time website at www.signingtime.com

We love this volume of Signing Time. The songs are wonderful and work very well in a school setting as well as at home. The songs are very catchy so you will find they get stuck in your head. Alex and Leah do a great job. We love to see the 2 friends/cousins interacting together. In this volume we learn signs for important words like friend, play, please and thank you. I use the manners song in my classroom and the kids love it.

We like that the written word comes on the screen first and then they show the sign. It is very helpful for practicing the signs. It is like a video flashcard. It also helps children develop reading skills because they start to recognize the written word that goes with the sign. We love watching the children do the signs because you see lots of different kids and lots of different skill levels. It gives you an idea of how your child might make the sign at different ages. Rachel also does the sign so you can clearly see the proper way to do it.

The song during the credits is a great way to learn additional signs that were not covered in the show. You can really add to your signing vocabulary if you pay attention.

I highly recommend this volume of signing time as well as the other 5 in the series. As a mother and a teacher I can say it is truly the best educational tool I have found for teaching ASL to children (and adults too). I hope they make many more and I will buy them all without hesitation. These shows are a labor of love for these families and we are thankful they chose to share with us.

my son learned to sign using these vids. i truly believe it lessened his tantrums in the 1-2 stage tremendously. he rarely had meltdowns and was using his signs to communicate to us what he wanted.

All I can say is wonderful! If you want your kids to be exposed to ASL in a fun way, this is the video for you. There are so many videos out there that make up signs, but this is the real deal! if you only purchase one video, make it this one (or any Signing Time videos).

As a Mom to a child with Down Syndrome this series has been intrumental in helping our daughter communicate with us as her speech is still yet to be understandable at almost 3 yrs old. These videos are fun, entertaining and educational. We have shared these videos with her therapists and teachers. We own several other ASL videos but Signing Time holds our kids attention and our typically developing 4 yr old has learned signs even when we did not think he was paying attention. I can not say enough about the benefits of signing with a child, there are added benefits like not having to yell across a room to speak to your child when you can sign. I can't wait for more to be released.