Simple Signing with Young Children: A Guide for Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Teachers

Studies show that young children who learn sign language are well prepared to acquire future language and literacy skills. Sign language provides a good foundation for language skills and an additional avenue of communication for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. Infants and toddlers often become frustrated when trying to communicate their needs. Sign language allows them to communicate their needs without words, reducing frustration.

Written for teachers of hearing children from birth to age six, Simple Signing with Young Children is the perfect introduction to American Sign Language. Organized by age, there are chapters for infants, toddlers, and preschool children, with age-appropriate signs. The chapter written for teachers of infants focuses on using beginning signs as a bridge to language, while the toddler chapter focuses on signs to promote expression, enrich vocabulary, and teach social skills. The preschool chapter places an emphasis on using signs to enhance emergent literacy skills.

There is a chapter on signing for children with special needs that incorporates multi-sensory learning activities. The chapter on using signs for classroom management includes signing to help children with impulse control, their emotions, and transitions.

Each sign is illustrated with a caption and one or more photos of a young child or adult practicing the sign, so the signs are easy to understand and execute. Instructions for putting signs together into simple sentences are also included. With Simple Signing, teachers can incorporate sign language into daily activities, making this the perfect book to introduce all young children to signing.