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Series Two Vol. 12: Box of Crayons : Signing Preview
Series Two Vol. 12: Box of Crayons : Song Preview
In Box of Crayons, Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and host Rachel Coleman share signs for all your favorite colors.
We have been ASL advocates ever since Pearl was a baby and we saw firsthand the benefits of teaching sign language to a baby. ASL opens up a world of communication not only for the deaf, but also for pre-verbal infants, toddlers, and children with special needs, like those with Autism and Down Syndrome--all of whom may be able to hear, but may not yet be able to communicate with speech. Over the past eleven years we have sampled and sold a variety of ASL materials, most aimed at an older child or parent. They are good and serve their purpose well, but miss the mark as far as kid-appeal. As soon as we saw our first Signing Time! DVD we knew it had both kid-appeal and educational value.
Including children makes the difference
Why do these DVDs work better than others? I think, and many parents have confirmed, that it is the inclusion of many children that makes the difference. Seeing other children signing and enjoying the process encourages the reluctant child to experiment and learn this new skill. On each DVD you see the word, you hear it spoken, and then you see Rachel clearly teaching each sign, followed by a vast array of children practicing the sign. I am a nut when it comes to children so I really like watching these little-bitty children signing and enjoying themselves. I also like the inclusion of special needs children in a production--so appropriate! There is a lot of animation and live-action to make sure a young child plainly understands the meaning of the sign.
A tool, not just entertainment
If your family is very conservative in nature, you may not like the catchy secular songs, dancing, or attire on these DVDs, but before you totally rule them out, there is an option on the DVD menu that allows you to watch the signs only. In fact, regardless of where you sit on the conservative spectrum, watching “signs only” is a prudent option. Most children do not benefit from unlimited media, so we would encourage you to watch “signs only” and save the complete program as an occasional treat. And what a treat! These children are absolutely captivating.
The best sign language series for children
Preschool teachers, speech-language pathologists, and pediatricians are recommending Signing Time! as the best sign language video series for young children. Since its start in 2002, Signing Time has expanded to twenty-six DVDs with more on the horizon. |
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