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Meet Your Instructor!
Hi! My name is Elizabeth Sprague and I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Born deaf in one ear, I had an early interest in learning Sign Language. Growing up in the middle of my mother's in-home daycare and having six siblings gave me a love of being surrounded by children. I've studied ASL and Child Psychology, but studying the Baby Signsº Program specifically has been the most fun and rewarding.
I am now a Mommy to three perfect little boys! Thomas (7 years old), Michael (3 years old) and Joshua (2 years old). I have used Baby Sign Language with all of them and have seen the amazing benefits first hand, both immediate and the ones that come later.
My oldest, Thomas, is in advanced reading classes for his age, gets 100% on every spelling test and has a great vocabulary. Once he really started talking (around 16 months) he just didn't stop! People would often comment about how well he spoke for his age. To this day he will talk anyone's ear off if they are willing to listen.
My second, Michael, is now 3 years old and started really talking around 24 months. He loved to sign and was talking sentences with signs by the time he was 12 months old. I contribute the fact that he wasn't verbal as early as Thomas to two factors: 1. ALL KIDS ARE DIFFERENT! We hear it all the time, but it can still be difficult not to compare our children and the rate at which they reach certain milestones. 2. Michael was much more advanced in his physical milestones than Thomas was at that age. Children usually pick either a physical milestone or a mental one to work on at any one point in time; and going back to all kids are different, Thomas usually focused on the mental and Michael has always been more about the physical aspect of things. Once he started talking though he REALLY started talking! His vocabulary exploded immediately! I think it really helped that he knew so many signs and he would sign and talk at the same time, so even if I couldn't understand the words coming out of his mouth I understood the signs so I could repeat back the correct verbalization. Now, this week at least, his favorite word is "Stupendous!" He still likes to practice signs with his baby brother, but doesn't rely on them to talk to me anymore.
I also potty trained Michael in just over a week at age two with the Baby Signs Potty Training Kit! Even though he was talking he Loved the Program. The daunting task of potty training instantly changed into a fun and exciting time! We are currently potty training Joshua using the Baby Signs Potty Training Kit and he loves it as well.
Joshua really enjoys making up his own signs and the flexibility of this program allows that. It is so natural for babies to make up their own signs, they don't have the ability to verbalize so they try to show you. The Baby Signs Program just gives them the tools to build a larger vocabulary so you can move beyond pointing and grunting (or screaming).
Example: I always take Joshua's toy cars and make a "vroom" sound as I drive them across his chest. We were out to dinner one night and sat in a booth by the window with a busy road right outside. Joshua looked out at all the cars driving by , took his hand and drove it across his chest making the "vroom" sound to tell me about the cars he was seeing! He was so happy when he realized he was being understood. "Yes, look at all those cars! Those cars are driving fast!"
This isn't the ASL sign for car, but I personally use signs as a way to bridge the communication gap until they can verbalize; So as long as I know what he's trying to say and he knows he's being understood, everything is exactly as it should be! If I decided to teach him ASL later, him having his own signs wouldn't hinder that at all. When he was able to physically manipulate his hands to do the more complex ASL signs i would just replace the easier "transition" signs. It's like a baby saying "ba-ba" and we say "yes! That's your blanket!" Eventually they will get it.
Teaching classes is a great way for me to share this great way for parents and caregivers to have a window into a child's life before they can talk. I teach it because I know it works to provide all the benefits it claims to. I know some parents worry about it not being natural or delaying speech, but I have the research (both professional and personal) to ease those fears and even downright prove them wrong! I want to share this program with as many families as I can because it makes happier babies, which leads to happier parents and caregivers....... and who doesn't want to be happier?
Along with the Parent Workshops and Parent/Child Play Classes I offer Child Care Certification Classes as well. I offer three levels of ECE (Early Childhood Educator) Training and Certification, FCC (Family Childcare Center) Training and Certification and Nanny/Au-Pair Training and Certification.
I'm so excited about the new "On The Grow" Classes Baby Signs has introduced! We now have classes for babies 2-6 months that incorporate some valuable information from Dr. Goodwyn and Dr. Acredelo's books "Baby Hearts" and "Baby Minds." We also now have classes for children ages 3-5 to learn some signs for fun while also learning skills like self control and sharing.
Using Sign Language before babies can talk reduces so much frustration and makes watching other people's children much more stress-free. I know because I've used it and seen it used in a daycare setting! It helps baby feel understood when she's sad that Mommy is leaving for work. It gives caregivers the ability to know what interests each child has and what they are thinking at any given moment. The strength that it adds to the caregiver/child bond is beneficial to everyone involved. Every child babbles and cries a little differently, consider this a universal language to get everyone on the same page!
I would love to see you in class! Ask about my scheduled classes or request a private class in your home or center!
Your Instructor 
