Our middle daughter, Reese, was the game changer. We found out on her birthday that she had Down syndrome along with a congenital heart defect. We were flooded with emotions at the unexpected news, and the fear of the unknown was overwhelming. In an attempt to tame that fear, I scoured the Internet and our local library for any information regarding Down syndrome. I was bombarded with info, some good & some bad, but focused on the things we could do to potentially improve Reese's quality of life. This is where Signing Time enters our story.
Sign language is gaining popularity in the special needs community. Children with Down syndrome typically have speech delays, some more severe than others, and quite often their expressive language is slower to develop than their receptive language. Obviously this disparity can cause frustration for both the child & his/her parents so other forms of communication are often used to bridge that gap. Enter ASL.
We bought the Baby Signing Time bundle when Reese was just a few months old and started playing them in the background during play time. While Reese was not at all interested in the DVDs at first, I was floored by how quickly Reagan, her big sister, became addicted. She was mesmerized by Rachel & her crew and began signing immediately. Finally, when Reese was nearing a year old, she started expressing some interest in the content & mastered simple signs like "more" and "baby" within just a few days. The rest, as they say, is history.
Reese picked up very quickly on the Baby Signing Time DVDs so we took the plunge and purchased the entire Signing Time set. (Hint: Wait for the sales! We bought the package when it was 50% off & saved a bundle.) We introduced a new DVD every few weeks & were astounded at how fast Reese & Reagan mastered the new content. I wish I could take credit for any of their signing success but Rachel, Leah, Alex and Hopkins are the deserving ones. All I do is hit "play" & let the team do their magic. We attempt to incorporate signs into our daily routine & the girls love to be "quizzed", but I've done very little of the actual teaching. Trust me when I say that "teaching" ASL to your loved one requires very little of your actual time. If you are not opposed to screen time, you have an amazing resource in the Signing Time series. Don't believe me? Here's a little proof....
Reese signing some colors at 2 years of age: (88 weeks ago)
Sisters signing about sports: (69 weeks ago)
Signing some words of encouragement for our beloved Royals: (64 weeks ago)
Reese was essentially nonverbal for the first three years of her life. She could imitate sounds & said a few basic words with some prompting, but she relied on ASL & gestures for most of toddlerhood. As is common with many kids with Down syndrome, her speech EXPLODED in her third year of life. As a result, she has dropped many of her signs (insert sad face) but she still signs for emphasis & when we are having trouble understanding her speech. I'm fairly certain ASL will be used in some shape or form in this house for many years to come.
Reese working some opposites: (37 weeks ago)
We introduced our third daughter, Harper, to the world in April 2013 & she had no choice but to learn ASL. It seems like she's been signing since birth.
Harper & Reese signing some basics: (55 weeks ago)
As Reese's dexterity & cognition both improve, she is able to master trickier signs & can more easily pair signs with her speech.
Signing an important message to kick off Down Syndrome Awareness Month: (10/1/15)
Questions: (3 weeks ago)
We get numerous messages from parents inquiring about ASL for their new, or not so new, child with Down syndrome and whether or not it's an investment in both time and money worth taking. I think the proof is in these videos & in the other videos/testimonials from parents just like us. Buying that first Signing Time DVD was one of the best decisions I've ever made as a parent. Take the plunge - you won't regret it!!
P.S. If you'd like to see more of Reese in action, we have tons of videos posted on our Instagram account (@mizzoumum) under the hashtag #reesereel.
