REVIEW: Signing Time! DVD
Posted on 08 09, 2007 under Doodads by dadagain |
This is a multi-sensory program that introduces children to a “hands
on” second language. It’s natural and fun for them to use their bodies
to communicate. Research shows this may enhance speaking, spelling, and
reading skills, reduce frustration and tantrums and increase bonding
with parents.
When faced with the inordinate amount of DVDs to choose from for your
kids to watch, it can be a pretty daunting selection. Here is where
Signing Time comes into play.
This is an educational DVD series that is actually pretty fun. I tested Volume 6, “My Favorite
Things”. This volume teaches hand sign language to kids for simple words: colors,
fruits and vegetables, and activities. (Red, Yellow, Blue, Carrot, Corn
etc)
The intro song is pretty memorable and catchy - I actually liked it and it wasn’t haunting me later the way Bob the Builder can pop into your head (in fairness Bob has had a few years to get into my head – I watched this only once)
The host is entertaining and has good presence. She kept both my 2-year-old daughter and my 8-month-old daughter captivated. My 8 month old will watch the cat run through the room and anything else that moves so she is a bit young as a test subject (the DVD is for ages 1-8) but my 2 year old seemed to like it. She sat through most of the 30 minutes, which is impressive.
I don’t think she really understood the hands correlated to the word you were saying. She has a pretty good vocabulary (500+ words) and knew all of the word choices as they are pretty basic, but the signs can be tricky. Ask a 2 year old to hold up her fingers to show her age and you are likely to get all five. I worked with her a bit to show the signs and teach her – some are easier than others.
I think the thing to take away here is that this DVD is educational and captivated her for almost a full 30 minutes. Where I think this is great is if you are trying to get dinner ready and having pangs of guilt popping in a Wiggles DVD while you chop carrots – this is actually teaching while it entertains. So guilt be gone. That said my guilt level is not that high so I might just be chopping carrots to a Wiggles groove. Variety is the spice of life. I would buy it and mix it in with the Wiggles and Elmo.
You can buy Signing Time! DVDs and CDs through Sophia's Tiny Hands. They retail starting at $14.99 and up.
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This DVD sounds good for older toddlers, though - thank you for the review.
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