There is more than one way to have fun with Signing Time

While I was updating my last post I could hear over my shoulder the sound of something plastic hitting the floor, then some genuine belly laughs.  I knew Ben had found something new, fun an most likely inappropriate to do.
So I grabbed the video camera an headed over.  Here is what I found:

I think the next time I let him change out his Signing Time DVD, I need to do more supervising.

My Baby (With Down Syndrome) Can Read!

 

I have been putting off this post for quite some time,  because I have not been sure how to write it.  Plus a few people that I have told have been a bit doubtful, so I wanted to include some video evidence.  When we first discovered that Ben could sight read words over a year ago, we thought it might be a fluke.  Randy was looking at some flash cards with Ben one night and accidentally dropped the cards.  This particular set of cards has the words on one side and the picture on the other.  As Randy was trying to sort the deck out, Ben was signing the word before he could flip the card over to the picture side.  I had been out with the big boys and when we got home he said  "look what Ben can do".  Sure enough Ben correctly signed 80% of the words in that flash card set.  At the time Ben was 32 months old.  Ben now can sight read close to 200 words and signs more than 300.  The above video shows him in action.  He uses a combination of signing and speaking to help us understand, since it is often difficult to understand many of words.  

You might be wondering how Ben learned to sight read.  The funny part is that it was kind of by accident.   If you want the details, go to the tab above called Ben Reading, or click here.

But what this whole experience has taught me is that there is no limit to what kids can achieve when they are motivated to do so.  Those original flash cards, are what motivated Ben.  Find what motivates your child and then work on it.  You will be surprised at how fast they master the task.  Set the bar high and they will rise up to meet it and exceed it.  Recently we have started working on the sight words he will need for school and reading short sentences.  It is slow going be he is making progress and building on his existing skills. 

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What A Difference A Day Makes

Yesterday was beautiful. 65 degrees, sunny, slight wind. After the big boys got home, and we got done with our ESU visit, we decided to go out and explore the farm and enjoy the weather. After just a few minutes, it hit me that it was the first time that Ben was able to walk outside. He started walking the weekend after Thanksgiving, and then the weather turned bad. So this was all new to him and he was having a blast. Mostly, I was just following him around.  He was so focused on checking things out, that he was not about to look back at me. This was my view most of the time:

A few times it looked like this:

Then he discovered rocks!

And then more rocks. 

And then it was time to go in.  But Ben did not want to go.  He threw a small fit.  So to distract him I popped in the new Baby Signing times video that we got from Jenni from ESU3. It was called A New Day, and it was all about going outside.  How appropriate that he learn words like outside, rain, grass, flower, bug etc.  We will be all ready to practice our new signs the next time we go outside.  Which looks like it might be a while.  Especially since today the weather looks like this:

What a difference a day makes.  We finally got all the snow melted from before, and it has to go and snow again.  I thought it was supposed to be spring tomorrow.  Oh well.  There is a saying... if you don't like the weather in Nebraska, just wait a bit...it will change.  Hopefully it will stop snowing soon, and melt quickly.

Ben and I are ready to do more exploring outside!

Signing times

We have been using signs sporadically with Ben for over a year now. He has a few signs, but does not use them very regularly. Some of his signs include: more, all done, eat, milk, night night, out and he waves hi and bye.

This morning John was eating a breakfast bar, and he announced with excitement "I think Ben is signing cookie".

Since the time change Ben has been getting up earlier, before I get a chance to shower. To keep him occupied while I get ready, I have been putting him in his playpen and then turn on the Signing times video we have (volume 3 Everyday signs).

The first few days he did not really watch it and just played with his toys. The next few days he would glace at it occasionally.

Lately he has been standing up watching the video and jabbering to the TV. This morning when I turned it on he got very excited and started clapping. (He has not seen it for a few days. )

When I was done with my shower, the DVD happened to be on cookie. I said "Ben can you say cookie?" And sure enough he made a fist with one hand and tapped it on the other hand. It was not perfect, but it sure was close. I was amazed. Then the DVD moved to cereal, and when I asked him to sign cereal, he moved his hand under his chin. Again not perfect, but close enough for me.

I thought that he had been pointing more and trying to use gestures, in an attempt to communicate with me. But I was not sure what he was trying to say. It did not hit me that he would be picking up the signs from the DVD that quickly. I need to pay more attention to the show it to find outwhat all the signs are that he is learning. It sounds like Ben will be getting volumes 1 and 2 for Christmas too. It is so exciting to see him learning signs.

So I think John was right. Ben was signing cookie when he saw his big brother eating a breakfast bar. Way to go Ben!