Teaching Signs to Down syndrome children

[Guest guest]

We have a two year old son with Down syndrome and he can sign around

60 signs so far.

Our EI(Early Intervention) ST and DT highly recommended to teach him

sign language and we did.

We started when he was around 9 months old and it took him a while

till he showed us his first sign " more more " .

He was 15months when he did his first sign, before then he was doing

nothing.

Since his first sign he is learning like the flood gate is open one to

three new words every day.

Last month he woke up with cry and signing " eat please…milk " .

I couldn't believe what I saw, he was signing to make a request.

Now when he sees any objects that he knows from books, tv or in real

life he signs vigorously.

He is not only learning sign language but also English and Korean and

he is doing very well.

Some words he understands in all three languages.

Because of our son we became advocates of teaching sign language to

Down syndrome children in fact any children.

Most of Down syndrome children's speech comes much later than non

Down's kid but that shouldn't stop us to communicate with them.

We strongly recommend the parents with Down syndrome children teach

sign language when they are still young.

We put a video shows his signing progress on You Tube.

Please go to

We hope this was helpful email to the parents who are contemplating

whether teach their kid sign language or not.

Mac & Sue