Here are several tips to help keep your child or children engaged in learning sign language.
- Set an theme for your week. Think up a theme you would like to practice. For example, for the last two weeks, I discussed that we were working on colors. I would find books with color themes and have them identify pictures by using signs. If you don’t have any of those type of books, you can check them out at your local library. I use the library immensely when focusing on more specific themes such as ocean life, objects around the home, etc.
- Make it interesting. Like I said above, use books in your teachings. Also a popular resource is online videos. You can find many videos on different signs that you can practice yourself and then sign to your kids. Here is an example of one resource that I use: ASLSearch.com. I like using this website with the older kids. It is easy to set up flash cards or quizzes to practice or test their skill level. Giving them some screen time daily to practice will help improve their skills.
- Get down to their level. Be creative and engaging by being with them while they are learning. Sitting with them reading and signing words from a book. Other examples using the color theme would be sit at the table, draw pictures together and identify the colors you are using through signing. Get down on the floor and play with color related objects or toys. Make a game out of it. A common game I use is I SPY with my eye a “pink” something and have them search for that object. Use specific signs related to the theme you are working on.
- Focus on one thing at a time. Children can feel overwhelmed with many things going on at the same time. I find that doing one thing on Monday, then another on Tuesday and so forth through the week keeps it interesting and creative.
If you don’t have a lot of experience with signing, it can be quite intimidating to try to get the children engaged in an activity, and actually keep their attention for more than five seconds so you can teach them something. These are normal fears, but the best thing you can do is relax – if you are having fun, the kids are having fun! Relax and be yourself. Be in the moment with your children.
