Sign, Say and Play Classes start in October

I have a Sign, Say and Play class starting in October in New Tampa. Please visit my website for the calendar of dates at www.babysignsprogram.com/bysharon.

How to Raise a Reader

Check out this great article from Parents.com featuring Dr. Linda Acredolo one of the creators of Baby Signs.

By Kim Ratcliff

Settling into a comfy chair with your child to read a story is one of the best things about being a parent. And if you haven't already made reading a daily habit, you need to start now, since books benefit kids in so many ways. "First of all, reading with your child is a wonderful bonding experience," says Parents advisor Linda Acredolo, PhD, coauthor of Baby Minds. Your kid gets to bask in your undivided attention, which makes storytime truly magical. Reading every single day also helps your child learn to talk, expand her vocabulary, build her imagination, and get prepped for school. Our expert tips will get your child hooked on books for life.

Reading with Babies
You can't start the reading habit too early. At 3 to 6 months, your baby will be more interested in chewing her board books, but by the end of her first year, she'll probably pick out favorites.

What They Learn
When you turn pages with your baby in your arms, she'll associate books with snuggling. "As an infant, she's learning to value books because it means she gets to cuddle with her mom or dad," says Dr. Acredolo. But most important, reading to a young baby ultimately helps her learn to talk. She begins to connect pictures with words. At 9 months, she'll be able to home in on your tone of voice, cadence, and the length of sentences. "Parents help a baby learn language by speaking to her often, with varied vocabulary and about topics she finds interesting," says Parents advisor Kathleen McCartney, PhD, professor of early-childhood development at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Make Reading Fun


•Go for the right touch (and taste!). Babies learn through their senses, so buy cardboard or cloth books that they can put in their mouth.



•Face it. Infants love looking at pictures of faces, especially those of other babies.



•Be silly. Is there a phone in the story? Say, "Ring, ring. Hello? I'm sorry Olivia can't take your call; she's in a meeting."



•Point out things in the real world. When you're taking a walk, talk about stuff you've read about in books. "See the doggie?" This will help her begin to associate the word "dog" with her picture book and the live creature in front of her.

Free Sign, Say and Play Class this week

I'm holding a free Sign, Say and Play Class this week on Thursday September 10th at 10am in New Tampa. To register please email me at Sharon.Butler@babysignsprogram.com or at (813)842-0676. I'm also excited to be announcing lower pricing for the 6 weeks Sign, Say and Play class. For a limited time I'm offering the 6 week class at $65.00 that includes the new Sign, Say and Play kit. The new Sign, Say and Play kit includes the My First Signs DVD (which is great, my son loves all the Baby Signs DVD's), quick reference guide, Higgeldy Piggedly music cd(includes all the songs played in class), video dictionary DVD with 150 ASL signs, Baby Signs memories journal, Time to Eat and Favorites board book.

How to prepare your baby for cold and flu season

Here is a great article by the founders of Baby Signs about protecting your baby and toddler and cold and flu season.

How to Prepare Your Baby For Cold & Flu Season
By Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn
As children go back to school, they become exposed to new viruses and bring them home to share with the family. If you have an infant in the house, there's a good possibility that you'll be caring for a sick baby at least once during the upcoming cold and flu season.

Sometimes it's hard to know when your baby or toddler is sick. Your baby might have a low-grade fever, but when she can't talk, there's no way for her to tell if her throat hurts or her ears ache. With the H1N1 swine flu virus looming on the horizon, it's especially important for parents to know that they CAN communicate with their baby when it comes to health issues. That's why we encourage you to start now to each these simple signs that will help your baby:

•tell you if he's feeling (HOT, COLD, SICK)


•tell you where she's feeling pain (HURT)


•know what to expect during a visit to the doctor (HELP, DOCTOR, MEDICINE)


•understand when the pain will end when getting an immunization (ALL DONE)


•communicate about health-promoting activities (WASH)