Re: signing backwards

[Guest guest]

Yes -- very common. The Author of Sign With Your Baby says to expect your child

to modify the sign to their liking/ability. -

BJ8396@... wrote:I'm interested in finding out if anyone has had an

experience similar to this

one-

My daughter, age 25 months, has really taken off with sign language recently,

and I couldn't be more pleased. She went from 5 signs two weeks ago, to over

30 signs this week. She is really communicating, and is so motivated!!! My

only issue is that she has many signs that are " backwards " . They are true

signs (ex. " want " , or " fish " ), but they are reversed. She signs " want " from her

body outwards, rather than pulling towards her body. " Fish " (a favorite due

to Nemo) she signs towards her back. I know what she's signing, but it's

definately backwards. She's learning signs by watching others, and by watching

her

" signing time " videos. I realize that this backwards signing is probably

due to the way she sees the signs from her own perspective, but I am wondering

if this is common or unusual? Any input would be welcomed!!

Thanks!

-Beth (mom to Casey, age 2)

[Guest guest]

I so welcomed this message!

My Ian also does some signs backwards... his mother is in the right

spot but the " father " sign is done at the back of his head instead

of his forehead. From what I recall, I think his " boy " sign was

also done at the back of the head instead of the forehead.

I never worked too hard to correct this error. Ian doesn't use any

sign except for " more " , but he never did get those backwards signs

right.

Our SLP had no real insight except to say it was part of the motor

planning disorder.

Pam

mom to Ian (2.11 yrs)

> I'm interested in finding out if anyone has had an experience

similar to this

> one-

> My daughter, age 25 months, has really taken off with sign

language recently,

> and I couldn't be more pleased. She went from 5 signs two weeks

ago, to over

> 30 signs this week. She is really communicating, and is so

motivated!!! My

> only issue is that she has many signs that are " backwards " . They

are true

> signs (ex. " want " , or " fish " ), but they are reversed. She

signs " want " from her

> body outwards, rather than pulling towards her body. " Fish " (a

favorite due

> to Nemo) she signs towards her back. I know what she's signing,

but it's

> definately backwards. She's learning signs by watching others,

and by watching her

> " signing time " videos. I realize that this backwards signing is

probably

> due to the way she sees the signs from her own perspective, but I

am wondering

> if this is common or unusual? Any input would be welcomed!!

> Thanks!

> -Beth (mom to Casey, age 2)

[Guest guest]

It sounds like your little one is doing great with sign. I remember who

elated we were to finally have conversations with our son when he learned to

sign. My husband would go out of town for a few days on business and then

when he came home, I would have a list of the new signs so he was up to

speed. You have obviously done a great job on encouraging sign your child!

My son did some signs backwards and some were just plain approximations. We

did not worry about it and just focused on him being able to communicate

with us. If we thought sign would be his permanent mode of communication

through life, maybe we would've tried to correct it.

Tricia Morin

North Carolina

<<<

I'm interested in finding out if anyone has had an experience similar to

this

one-

My daughter, age 25 months, has really taken off with sign language

recently,

and I couldn't be more pleased. She went from 5 signs two weeks ago, to

over

30 signs this week. She is really communicating, and is so motivated!!! My

only issue is that she has many signs that are " backwards " . They are true

signs (ex. " want " , or " fish " ), but they are reversed. She signs " want " from

her

body outwards, rather than pulling towards her body. " Fish " (a favorite due

to Nemo) she signs towards her back. I know what she's signing, but it's

definately backwards. She's learning signs by watching others, and by

watching her

" signing time " videos. I realize that this backwards signing is probably

due to the way she sees the signs from her own perspective, but I am

wondering

if this is common or unusual? Any input would be welcomed!!

Thanks!

-Beth (mom to Casey, age 2)

[Guest guest]

Beth--

While I'm no expert, at her age, I think it's okay that Casey does a

few things " backwards " or might not do a few signs quite right. My

son Drew, even now when learning a new sign from his teachers (and

he's almost 33 months old) will still skew a sign a little. I think

it comes down to some of the motor planning associated with apraxia,

and also just being a 2 1/2 year old who's still working on his fine

motor skills in general. As long as she's understood, that's

probably what's most important. Also, if she does it wrong, such as

if she says " fish " with her sign in the wrong direction and you

confirm, " fish? " , show her the right way as you are doing it.

Hopefully, she'll pick up that you are doing it a little differently

and correct it herself. (It's worth a try at least!)

You should be proud of her that she's picked it up so fast, and I'm

sure both of you are feeling a certain sense of elation knowing that

you are understanding each other better. Keep it up!

le (SAHM to Drew, 2.8 yrs, apraxia, DSI, hypotonia)

> I'm interested in finding out if anyone has had an experience

similar to this

> one-

> My daughter, age 25 months, has really taken off with sign language

recently,

> and I couldn't be more pleased. She went from 5 signs two weeks

ago, to over

> 30 signs this week. She is really communicating, and is so

motivated!!! My

> only issue is that she has many signs that are " backwards " . They

are true

> signs (ex. " want " , or " fish " ), but they are reversed. She

signs " want " from her

> body outwards, rather than pulling towards her body. " Fish " (a

favorite due

> to Nemo) she signs towards her back. I know what she's signing,

but it's

> definately backwards. She's learning signs by watching others, and

by watching her

> " signing time " videos. I realize that this backwards signing is

probably

> due to the way she sees the signs from her own perspective, but I

am wondering

> if this is common or unusual? Any input would be welcomed!!

> Thanks!

> -Beth (mom to Casey, age 2)

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

My son is 24 months, and has around 45 signs. He signs some of them

" backwards " , and some signs he has created himself as well. He also has

modified a few (apple is IN his ear instead of on his cheek!). I do not make a

big deal about it. At this age, many children approximate the best they can,

and with our guys, motor planning is involved too. I always model it back to

him without formally correcting him, " Oh, you want an apple? " (while making the

correct sign for apple).

I wouldn't be worried about it. Hooray for your little one on picking up the

signs so quickly!

(mom to cj)

BJ8396@... wrote:

I'm interested in finding out if anyone has had an experience similar to this

one-

My daughter, age 25 months, has really taken off with sign language recently,

and I couldn't be more pleased. She went from 5 signs two weeks ago, to over

30 signs this week. She is really communicating, and is so motivated!!! My

only issue is that she has many signs that are " backwards " . They are true

signs (ex. " want " , or " fish " ), but they are reversed. She signs " want " from her

body outwards, rather than pulling towards her body. " Fish " (a favorite due

to Nemo) she signs towards her back. I know what she's signing, but it's

definately backwards. She's learning signs by watching others, and by watching

her

" signing time " videos. I realize that this backwards signing is probably

due to the way she sees the signs from her own perspective, but I am wondering

if this is common or unusual? Any input would be welcomed!!

Thanks!

-Beth (mom to Casey, age 2)