learning to use a sign language 87
Help your child learn different kinds of signs
In addition to learning the names of objects and people, your child needs
to learn many different kinds of signs. This will help her learn more
about the world around her. it will also prepare her to be able to think
and sign in sentences later on.
You can use the same steps as on the previous page to teach your child
‘action signs’, ‘feeling signs’, and ‘describing signs’.
• action signs
Signs for ‘eat’, ‘sleep’,
and ‘drink’ are often
the first action signs a
child learns.
Eat your
soup, Thuy.
eat
• feeling signs
Signs for ‘happy’,
‘sad’, and ‘angry’
are often the first
feeling signs a child
learns.
You look sad,
Ramona.
soup
• describing signs
Signs for ‘wet’,
‘dry’, ‘hot’, or ‘cold’
are often the first
describing signs
a child learns.
Hot?
Stay back, Seema.
The pan is hot.
pan
hot
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)