Baby Sign Language

As many of you know we have had great success using baby signing with our youngest. I became interested because I had taken ASL in college and had a friend at Starbucks when I worked there whose day job was as an aide for special needs and autistic adults- I never knew they use signs quite often because it helps when emotions can block words (haven't we all had that experience!). She started me on the path of refreshing my skills and I have continued on my own.

After having so many people stop me in public and ask if I knew where they could take baby signing classes in South Orange County, I searched and was only able to find one class in Fullerton at Belly Sprout. There are probably others, but I didn't find them easily and there is a definite interest in South OC, especially.

So I have decided to join MySmartHands as a teacher and I am in the process of signing up as a contract instructor with the city of San Juan Capistrano's Community Education Department. Baby Signing Level 1 is an 8 week course and parents and their offspring will learn over 100 signs. At this point I will only be offering baby signing- but I do plan to develop a homeschool course by next spring and get approved as a vendor with several charter schools.

There is a well respected homeschool class at the Sign Language Factory in Anaheim if anyone is interested in getting started right away. The instructor Bill Rennie is wonderful, so I hear. I hope to take some courses there myself as I delve deeper. For older children (and adults) usage & grammar, history & culture and other nuances are very important. With hearing babies it's a whole different ball of wax, but I do believe it is very important to use actual ASL signs!

While the location is being determined I am forming an interest list, if you know anyone who might be. Just send me an e-mail (barefootOCmama@gmail.com). I will also have gift certificates available for expecting and new moms- give the gift of communication!

Barefeet & busy hands make baby a happy bundle indeed!