96 learning to use a sign language
Knowing words and using a language helps a child develop his mind.
When he knows words like ‘big’ and ‘small’, he can use those words
to think and to express difficult ideas — like comparing one thing to
another. See Chapter 7 for information about how language helps a
child’s mind to develop.
To teach your child other groups of signs, try putting the
name of an object or person together with:
• a word or sign
that shows
what a person
or thing does.
Look how you made
Auntie Vijaya laugh.
Auntie Vijaya
• a word or sign that
shows where an
object or person is.
laugh
Now you can stay
warm under the
blanket, Adwin.
• a word or sign that
shows wanting more,
or for something to
happen again.
Do you want
more rice?
want
• a word or sign
that shows not
wanting something,
that something is
all gone, or that
something cannot
be done.
No, Salim, the sweets
are all gone.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)
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