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(Unit 3) Topic 10: Basic Sign Language for Young Children

1 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education

Practice Signing

​Topic 10 Page 16

The best way to learn any language is to practice! ​

Prior to teaching sign language to the children in your care, you must understand the fundamentals of the language and be able to instruct children in the proper way to use the signs. You do not need to be fluent, but you do need to understand the language. Try to take time to practice your signing, especially fingerspelling. There is no need to speed-sign or rush through the practicing. 

Some suggestions for practicing sign for teachers and students:

• Practice every day
• Sign with others. Having a group or pair to practice with helps to make it fun and more conversational. You can also get great feedback.
• Develop a rhythm. Many new signers are stiff and shaky. Try to find a rhythm that works for you. As you become more confident in the language, this will naturally develop.
• Don’t be embarrassed! Use those signs, use the facial expressions, and practice! Practice in front of a mirror so you can see how you look when signing. You should see obvious facial expressions and body language.
• Make signing fun. Children are naturally curious and active. Taking them on signing field trips, playing sign games, or singing songs while signing is a natural way for them to learn and have fun.

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Signing Songs

​Practicing sign language and incorporating sign language in your program should be a fun experience! Young children enjoy movement and activity. Combining sign language practice with music or movement can prove to be a fun and engaging activity for the children in your care. Even infants and older children will enjoy signing to songs and playing sign language games!

Try adding some signs to the existing songs, rhymes, and routines of your day

Here are some examples of sign language songs and more that can easily be added to an early childhood program.

Video: ​ABC You Later
Source: Sing to Learn (Youtube)

Video: Pledge of Allegiance
Source: We Sign (Youtube)

Video: Hello and Goodbye Song Using Sign Language 
Source: Jbrary ​​ (Youtube)

(Unit 3) Topic 10: Basic Sign Language for Young Children​ * Navigation Menu