Signing program helps kids speak

LaGuardia Community College is offering a free opportunity for parents to learn new signing programs that may lead to children speaking earlier and improve their I.Q.
The Mommy and Me Baby Fingers Sign Language workshop will be held on Saturday, September 29 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the college’s Center III building at 29-10 Thomson Ave., Long Island City.
The workshop will teach parents and their children about a new sign language program in which kids communicate through their fingers and music.
A longitudinal study conducted by the University of California (Davis) followed participants in the Baby Fingers program through their eighth year. They successfully concluded that babies who sign tend to begin speaking earlier and have stronger control of verbal language.
They also determined that such interactive programs strengthen parent-child bond, improve I.Q. and facilitate an interest in reading.
There are three levels of the Baby Fingers program with Saturday’s event as an introductory course.
The courses will teach children sign language through musical play and songs with other families. Initially, children aged 12-to-15 months will learn words they need for daily activities such as “apple” or “milk.”
Older children learn words based on interest such as colors, signs and animals. They then progress to combining words and forming sentences while using games, songs, storytelling and acting out scenes. For more information or to R.S.V.P. call 718-482-5324. Visit the website at www.laguardia.edu/pda/baby_fingers_mommy_me.htm.
Reservations are strongly recommended, as class size is limited. All information about the three level Baby Fingers program is provided on the website.