E-Book Overview
This book teaches hearing parents how to use simple sign language gestures to communicate with their hearing infants before their infants can speak. Joseph Garcia uses anecdotes, practical guidelines and humor to explain the benefits and method for taking advantage of this unique form of early communication. He will help you recognize when your child is receptive to learning. He recommends which signs to teach first and shares ideas for games that can be fun and useful when introducing new signs. The book is also a useful reference with 145 clearly illustrated signs, enabling you to choose and teach the signs that will be most beneficial to you and your child. This book is also included in a separate "package" edition called the SIGN with your BABY Complete Learning Kit - which is comprised of the book, 60 minute training video and quick reference guide.
E-Book Content
SIGNwithyourBABY. How to Communicate with Infants Before They Can Speak
Joseph Garcia
Published by
SIGN ME —. Sign2Me™ is an imprint and trademark of Northlight Communications, Inc. 11395 Fifth Avenue NE, Suite B Seattle, WA 98125-6108 More information about SIGN with your BABY products can be found in the back of this book. Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003 by Joseph Garcia 1st Printing 1999, 2nd Printing 1999, 3rd Printing 2000, 4th Printing 2001, 5th Printing 2003. This book is based on information originally presented in the book, Toddler Talk, written by Joseph Garcia. Toddler Talk is no longer in print. Printed in Canada All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form or by means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author and publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. For information contact Northlight Communications, Inc. Notice of Liability-Disclaimer The information in this book is developed from public information, educational sources, and the author's personal observations. No claim is made as to the results of using the information contained in this book. Neither the author nor Northlight Communications nor Stratton-Kehl Publications, Inc. shall have any liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to the results of the book's suggested techniques. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 98-89288 ISBN 0-9668367-7-4
Cover Design Graphica Communication Solutions Illustrations Gregory Maes Heather Nystrom Lola Roberson Joseph Garcia Cartoons Matt Anderson Layout Terry Stratton Dara Burrows Joseph Garcia Stephanie Hopkinson Proof Reading Barbara J. Miller
I want to give special thanks to Dara Burrows, my wife, for her patience and persistence in transforming my thesis into a readable guide. I also thank John Herum for his technical guidance. I am grateful to the early childhood development researchers whose studies continue to help us become better parents. And a special acknowledgment goes to Dr. Glenn Massay who encouraged me to investigate my idea, test my theories, and write this book.
Printed on recycled paper with soy ink.
FOREWORD For my parents, Emma and Bill Garcia, who taught me that through learning and loving, I could do anything.
Certain very important facts about human language have been known for many years. Two thirds to three quarters of all everyday language is ordinarily acquired by the third birthday. Also, in cases of poor educational performance, inadequate language ability is almost invariably present. What has not been known, surprisingly, is what exactly goes on during those first three years that underlies the acquisition of language. The reason for this strange state of affairs is that the research community has largely neglected the details of