I’ve resisted the lure for a long time. I had a plethora of what I considered very valid objections to joining the movement; the time and expense were too great, Nik didn’t have the coordination to perform the requisite actions, and I would be the one doing all the work…and so on.
Well, like any good cult, I found myself drawn in, curious to find out more from the likes of these die-hard followers (her, her, her, her, oh and her, too). I kept reading about the enjoyment their children got out of it, the diminished stress levels they personally experienced as a result and— gosh darn it— how cute it all is! Being a sucker for cute, devoted to my son having more enjoyment in his life, and a slave to my own stress, I simply had to check it out.
I was hooked. But how to support the habit? The library. Yes, it’s true. Even the library is on board!
You know, it’s said that a cult will make you turn your back on those you love. Well, I hope Mary can forgive Nik his betrayal; apparently, he’s got a new main squeeze. Her name is Rachel. All I have to do is start to sing a refrain of one of her siren songs and Nik starts smiling like a love sick schoolboy. No, really, I mean it; he even begins to blow kisses to the air! Sorry Mary, it’s been a jolly holiday. But this thing with Rachel? Well, it seems pretty serious.
Nik getting his Rachel fix
Nik spontaneously signed “eat” for the first time this morning…
while watching the video, of course!
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Disclaimers:
The use of cult references is intended for purely humorous effect. Please accept my apology for any offense given; it is entirely unintentional.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must say we have been working with Nik using the sign for “eat” for a while now. He understands it, he will mimic it if he’s specifically asked within the context of meal time. He has not, before today, ever spontaneously signed this or any other sign.
A spontaneous sign!! That is so exciting!! Well done Nik!
That’s really cool! I’ve always felt like signing would be way more a natural fit for me than speech, which is mostly awkward, difficult, and stressful.
When I was about 4 or 5 I would alway check out two books from the library: The Little Match Girl and a big book of American Sign Language. I learned a lot of signs, because even though I could speak, it was a lot less difficult to sign, and I wished that I could sign at school and more at home, too. I taught myself a lot, but after a few years forgot it as I didn’t keep up with it. Nobody at school knew how to sign.
I have recently caught the Signing Time program on PBS and they have some youtube videos as well. I really want to re-learn it.
Add me to the list of die-hard fanatical followers. Signing Time was an incredible find for Chee. I credit signing time with a huge leap in talking … as well as a huge leap in understanding. After we discovered ST she started connecting things in her world to one another. It was incredible. She still loves the show. I had tried to teach Chee ASL for a long, long time but she never signed anything back to me … until the show.
I love Rachel and her show. I hope Nik loves it too!
how wonderful! Go Nik!
Sounds wonderful! And what a bonus for Nik, who’s apparently VERY happy with your decision.
Mary’s fun but I don’t think I could live with her!
You and your blog are mentioned on my blog again, btw. So glad to be back in the blog loop to see what everybody’s up to. Hugs to you and Nik from Denver, K.
That is exciting.
Now what did you get him to eat?
Well, as die-hard members of the cult, always glad to see another convert. Although I agree that they are way too expensive.
Coincidentally, two of my boys (only one of them with autism) are completely obsessed with “Step in Time” from MP. The other twin can sing “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” in a mumbly way.
Good luck getting those Signing Time songs out of your head!
Welcome to the club! Isn’t she great? We’ll add this to the list of things the bakesale can help pay for…
COOLio!!
Go Nik!
Hey, I was listening to the Broadway Mary Poppins the other day, and thought of you guys.
Do you have that recording? If not, I’d love to make one for you – the actors are sublime!
We are big fans too. J has loved it from day one and although he was already talking, it helped his fine motor tremendously.
Little J at age 3 is just now starting to form some of the signs that require individual finger movements. He wasn’t talking when we started the videos almost 2 years ago. The repetition from the verbal and signs really really helped.
Have fun with Rachel. I’m now trying to hunt down some cheap versions of series 2.
I am so happy for you guys! Way to go Nik!
K.C. seems to understand his colors only if the signs accompany them.
Signing is wonderful! Heres to more signs! Way to go Nik!
I am so happy for you guys! Way to go Nik!
K.C. seems to understand his colors only if the signs accompany them.
Signing is wonderful! Heres to more signs! Way to go Nik!
Mooser was signing rapidly when unable to make more than an AH sound. Motor planning affected that too, but eventually me and daddy’s inability to learn signs as fast as him slowed him down more than anything else. He had a sign vocab over 100 at least. Once the sounds started coming, you could tell he preferred to be verbal rather than sign, but he still uses signs for difficult words (e.g., cereal) or to clarify. And, we too used signing time… from the library… Have fun!
Signing is great for kids. M used to sign. Maybe you could take a class in sign? I have taken several and they were lots of fun and knowing to sign is always a good thing. I am so glad Nik is using sign.
Sometimes I think “spontaneous” is the most beautiful word in the English language. By the way, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I showed Isaac Nik’s video, and he demanded to see it over and over and over and over and over and over again. Every time I said, “Okay sweetie, let’s go have lunch,” he’d say, loudly and clearly, “I WANT MORE NIK!”
So there you have it. We all want more Nik.
Congrats on the sign…still catching up on the other posts. I’ve been in the weeds over here.
Isn’t it just absolutely infectious? I can’t help but want to mimic when I watch!
Hi, Simon here, I just discovered your blog via the autismhub feed I have on Livejournal, still trying to work out how to make a friends list on blogger(any hints greatly appreciated).I learned signing as a teenager babysitting a profoundly deaf 9 year old, but when I get severely stressed, it’s way easier to sign than speak(adult diagnosed Aspie), fortunately my daughter knows the main signs. I’m starting to teach my grandson sign (he’s 8 months old), more for language enhancement and communication with signing people than because he needs to (I started signing to him before he was 3 months old).
Nik is absolutely adorable (yes you can tell him, or just say that Simon says hi, or a hug if he’s into hugs). I saw mention of a movie, is that on youtube? If you can leave a link in my comments I’d love to see more than just a few photos.
Hugs to all of you
Simon