Tag: language development

Description

My Smart Hands with Maria, LLC provides sign language instruction for caregivers to use with their hearing babies. Research shows that signing babies:

*Talk sooner

*Have larger vocabularies

*Have less frustration, crying, and tantrums

*Engage in more sophisticated play

*Score higher on IQ tests (when tested at age 7-8)

The My Smart Hands™ curriculum has been carefully developed by Laura Berg, a certified teacher and guest lecturer at the University level on the topic of using sign language with hearing children. Her techniques have also been a proven success—check out this video of her daughter, Fireese:

www.mysmarthands.com/Site/Watch_a_13_month_old_baby_showing_off_her_signing_skills!.html

What to expect from a Level One Class:

These sessions introduce you to every day words, family signs, foods, animals, emotions, opposites, bed time, and play signs. You will learn recommended first signs; we will discuss the benefits of using American Sign Language (ASL) with infants and demonstrate easy techniques for successfully integrating signs into everyday life. In this 8-week program you will learn over 100 ASL signs to use with your child. Each class allows for review, discussions, songs, and practice of signs in a playful, educational, and language-rich environment where caregivers and children will build their vocabulary. Classes are 45 minutes in length and are created for parents/ caregivers and babies.

This program is recommended for pre-verbal babies with little to no signing exposure. Most babies are developmentally ready for signing back to their caregivers around 8-10 months of age, but exposure to sign can begin at birth. The typical age of attending babies is 6-18 months.

If you have an older or more experience baby and wish to take a Level Two class please contact me for more details.

When:

Check out the event calendar at www.milagrosboutique.com for current session(s) available.

What if these sessions or location doesn’t work for you?

Scheduling is easy and flexible—you can either come to me or I can come to you! Groups of 4 or more will get a discount and I will be happy to come to your location.

Do you belong to a playgroup or other child related group? I am also happy to come and speak on the benefits of using sign and give an introduction to the program.

Cost:

The fee for all 8 sessions, with a full color-photo manual of all the signs and songs taught, is $120. This allows for up to 2 caregivers and baby to attend.

How to register:

Contact Maria Gross at maria@mysmarthands.com or call 503-312-2216.