I Heart Deaf Babies
I’ve noticed a creepy phenomenon that has steadily been gaining popularity in our culture for the last few years. I don’t know why or how it started, but it must be stopped immediatly. I’m referring to the ultra-annoying habit of new parents teaching their babies sign language. Why in the hell is this necessary?! Unless your kid is really deaf, I don’t see the point. And don’t tell me that it’s great for the kid because their motor skills develop before their verbal skills do. That may be true, but that’s not why parents do this. They just want to stroke their own egos and brag to other parents to make themselves feel superior. Since when do you need a gimmick to be a good parent?
What started me on this tangent is that today, for the first time, I actually witnessed two super irritating women signing to a baby while I’m standing in the coffee shop. I’m just trying to buy my Vanilla Caramel Avalanche before work and I hear “Aubrey, please. Aubrey, please.” They were saying this as they touched their hands to their mouth or something odd like that. And this kid wasn’t deaf. It was laughing and babbling away. And she had no fucking clue what her spastic mother and grandmother were trying to teach her. And frankly, both women looked like complete idiots doing this.
I remember when a good friend of mine had her son three years ago and was made to feel like shit by some uptight Donna Reed bitch because she wasn’t teaching him how to sign. I had never heard of such a thing before and was flabergasted that people would really do this to their kid. I wanted to research this a bit and I found a website called “Signing Time” that sells videos of how to do this. The video you can click on to watch is like nails on a chalkboard. I highly recommend you watch if you ever want to know exactly what NOT to do as a parent. It is truly hideous.
I didn’t know “immediantly” was a word
Perhaps parents are teaching their children this skill so all children can be included in conversations. Deafness is a more prevalent issue today as students are given more opportunities regardless of ability. This is just another way to be more inclusive and make sure that you are fostering a family that is as welcoming as possible.
Besides, don’t be jealous just because you don’t know sign language.
Ha, you’re right Tony! I included an extra “n” in there. Thanks for pointing it out and making me fee stupid!
I will change it. FYI- Are you a writer for the website “Signing Time?”
In my day to day obsevance, it’s the parents who are deaf…to their own children’s obnoxious behavior. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who can hear them whining and screaming and crying in public places while mommy and daddy stroll along, oblivious to the cacophony spewing forth from their kid’s mouths. I wish more parents were as concerned about teaching their kids the meaning of the word “no” as they are about teaching them sign language.
As far as I’m concerned I’m either going to hell or will be blessed with my own deaf baby because of my well known “deaf voice”. I better sign up for those DVDs now.
Cwap if your Waughing
I almost entitled this post “Clap If You Are Laughing,” but I knew only a few people would get the joke!
I hate this!!! It is actually endorsed by Easter Seals but I feel it is a huge deterant to language aquisition. I know no educated teachers who employ this strategy and definately feel it is for the Yuppie mommy who wants to feel like her baby is smart. Guess what? John and Ella can both say “more”without pointing to their mouth. Hello…Encourage your child to use their words!! I have done research on this topic and found many studies endorsing it but as a reading and linguistics specialist I just can’t. Tony…can you spell check this?? I would appreciate it! and by the way this has nothing to do with american sign language…get a clue.
Carol,
I think if you read the other posts, you’d find that Brooke indicated (unspoken though it may have been) a favorable relationship with me, making my post tongue and cheek. I could respond with “you get a clue” and be serious, but I don’t feel like exacerbating a misunderstanding and overreaction. However, I do have a serious response to your stance.
I do find it interesting that you admit to finding many studies that endorse the practice but cannot because of some perceived incongruence with your on specialty. I believe that parents still do teach children to use their “words.” This is no different (in principle) than parents teaching their children two languages at the same time. In fact, it -is- different in the fact that children can use sign language and their first language at the same time, both reinforcing each other and thus encouraging a stronger learning of both languages. If anything, this reinforces and strengthens any work you may already be doing.
I have nothing against teaching sign language to a child if it is deaf (obviously) or if they have a deaf person in their family. I am referring to people who do this as a way to make other parents feel like shit. These are the same kind of parents who enroll their child in violin lessons when they’re two or make them compete in toddler beauty pagents [have you seen TLC's Toddler's and Tiara's?!] Can we just let babies be babies. My God, children will learn to talk when they are ready and why put more pressure on them than is necessary? Since when do children need help learning to speak? Does anyone go to kindergarten as a mute? I think not. And, yes, I had misspelled the word immediatly and went back and changed it. Also, I do know Tony-he used to work for me. And, Tony, I think you meant to write “your own specialty” and not “your on specialty.” Just thought I’d point that out to you
My misunderstanding. Your previous posting indicated that you assumed Brooke was discussing children with an actual disability not parents who want their baby to point to there mouth instead of say “more”. How many children do you have? Have you employed this method with success? Again-It has always been my understanding that this method is uniquely “baby sign language” not American Sign Language. I could be wrong. You seem to know alot about the subject maybe you can clear this up for me. I have only read Brooke’s blog and had missed your other comments. Didn’t mean to “step on your toes”.
I agree Brooke. We need to let babies be babies and kids be kids!!! It’s amazing how many parents live vicariously through their children!! I found a web site–www.mybabycantalk.com that has a dictionary of signs-and they are based on standard American Sign Language-so that’s good. I plan on teaching both John and Ella all of these signs by the next time you come home so we can talk about you and you won’t know what we are saying!! (guess I shouldn’t have clued you into the site huh) Another thought—Maybe your mom could start teaching these signs to Alex and then she could get more than a grunt in response to the questions she asks him!!!! I don’t know Brooke maybe I jumped the gun in agreeing with you. I am starting to see some real possibilities here. Have a great day!
How come I’m the only one working?
Ahhhh the perks of the hardworking teacher… Must suck to have a real job!!
Yes, I know there should be a comma after “ahhh”.
No, bitches, I’M the only one working because I’M the only one who doesn’t have internet access at her job!!! Why, God, why can’t we have the internet my job?!!
Sucks to be you. My sister, who currently doesn’t have enough money to buy millk, has internet access on her phone. Maybe you could look into that.