learning to use a sign language 95
How to help your child understand groups of signs
1. When your child names an
object or person, expand
on what he says.
Stress the group of signs you
want your child to learn and
repeat it several times.
This is a big tree.
It is a very big tree!
Tree.
2. Watch for your child’s
response. Does he respond
in any way that shows he
understood? If so, praise him.
If he does not respond, repeat
the sign several times.
That’s right,
a big tree.
3. Use these signs as much
as you can throughout
the day. Encourage the
whole family to use
them too.
Remember the big tree,
Manop? Tell Mama about
the big tree.
remember
big
In this example, the parents put together
the name of an object (‘tree’) with a
word that describes it (‘big’).
tree
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)