28 guidelines for teaching language
Other ways to get your child’s attention
If your child is more interested in an object than in what you are
communicating, you can get his attention by stopping all action,
bringing the object close to your face, or gesturing or signing near the
object.
• Stop all action. If you completely stop moving, especially with an
object in your hand, your child will probably
look at you to see why you have stopped.
Toy.
• Bring the object close to your face, so he can
see your face and the object at the same
time (if you want him to see your
mouth).
• Point to or sign near the object
(if you want him to learn a
sign for the object).
To call his attention to the sign,
Obasi’s sister is signing near his toy.
At first, it can be hard to remember to get your child’s full attention before
you begin to communicate. But it gets much easier with practice.
Sign or talk face to face, at eye level
Your child will be able to understand more of what you say or sign if you
squat down close to her (within about 1 meter, or 3 feet), and
look her in the eye as you speak or sign.
If possible, try to have light from the sun or a lamp shining on your face,
not from behind you. When the light comes from behind you, your face
and hands will be in a shadow and harder to see.
Mariana’s mother is
playing a clapping
game with her.
Sweet orange,
half a lime,
give me a hug so
you’ll...
...be mine!
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)