Baby Signing Time! Volume 1 DVD Reviews

• Original Signing Time is MUCH Better

  
  By A4J9EMK63RBNE on 2007-03-20
  We too were so impressed with the original Signing Time that we decided to try this one for our nearly one-year-old baby. While we're not fans of TV for children under two, the first Signing Time was so straight-forward and simple that we were comfortable watching it with our child. It took only a few times of watching it before she was using the signs all the time!
  
  So we were excited when the Baby version came out and ordered it. But it is way too "produced" in comparison to the original one, and the cartoon graphics and music are annoying and distracting. We let the baby watch it once and she sat like a zombie, which worried us, since she'd been so engaged by the original one. But this one is far less effective in terms of teaching her than the low-budget/realistic original one.
  
  If you're looking to start your child on the path to learning ASL, I strongly recommend you stick with the original Signing Time series. The Baby version is just too close to that mindless entertainment junk you find in most children's videos today, which is a real shame, since the original series are so engaging and interactive.
  
  I gave this two stars as it's not the worst thing for a baby, but in comparison to the original series, it was very disappointing.
  
  

• Not as good as the original Signing Time

  
  By AMFI1I5DQ78S1 on 2007-03-19
  I bought this because my 11-month-old daughter loves Signing Time Volume 1 of the original series and I thought the baby version might be even better for her. I was wrong - she's just not into this one. The original Signing Time (vol. 1) is much simpler and just shows kids in natural environments doing the signs. This baby version has more cartoon content and is much more "high-energy" which seems to turn my daughter off (and is less enjoyable for me as well). This might be great for some babies, but mine prefers the simple, low-tech version.
  
  

• More 'Baby Signing Time' Please!

  
  By A3M7K49JP2H6TZ on 2007-04-09
  I have been signing a handful of words with my 8 month old daughter for about two months now. She's been very attentive when I've been signing, but until we started watching 'Baby Signing Time' she hadn't really attempted any sings on her own...However, we've had the DVD for less than a week and she's already started signing 'milk.' I'm not claiming that this DVD is a miracle...I think my efforts to be consistent with the signing, in combination with her evolving developmental maturity have a lot to do with the fact that she is starting to communicate non-verbally. However, I really think this engaging video has helped. I find this DVD to be very age appropriate and entertaining, as well as educational. The music is upbeat and the songs are catchy. The repetition may be boring for some adults, but for babies repetition is an effective teaching tool...my daughter has plenty of time to hear each word and she gets to see each sign multiple times. I think she really enjoys seeing other babies use the signs she's been watching me use for the past couple of months. Plus, I find it helpful to see a variety of kiddos using the signs, as it gives me an idea of what it might look like when my daughter starts to attempt new signs herself. I also have a three year old who has really enjoyed watching the video with her baby sister...she practices all the signs and is starting to use them when talking with the baby throughout the day, which I think is great. We haven't watched the original series so I am unable to compare the two; but I feel pretty sure that we will be investing in some of those DVDs as our household becomes more sign savvy.
  
  

• A Mom

  
  By A2WR91R1DAFYCH on 2007-03-18
  We have been using the Baby Signing series since my child was few month old. This is the only tv/vidoes that he watches. He loves the videos and music which we use in the car. This reinforces all the signs that I have been teaching my son. I learned about this series at a signing for infants class and have not been disappointed. In fact, I have purchased additional videos by the same company. The songs are catchy and the words being taught are every day common words. In fact, my son learned words that I didn't realize he knew until I saw him signing with some of his books. I highly recommend this series! Enjoy your the communication you will open up with your child. We have very little whining in our home with a 15month old. I wish that they had more than two Baby Signing videos.
  
  

• Ages 3 and 2 LOVE IT!

  
  By A1MOYDN3FLV2D3 on 2008-02-08
  My girls absolutely LOVE baby signing times. They came from the foster system unable to speak and signing times helped them to gain confidence enough to learn to communicate their basic wants and needs. A MUST PURCHASE for any family!
  
  
• I wish there were more
  By A39NYF00CMJ1K5 on 2008-02-10
  We bought this for our son about 5 or 6 months ago. He's now 11 months old. He's an extremely intense and focused baby. Even at a young age. When we popped volume one into the DVD player, we were kind of bummed that he didn't take an interest to it. However after a few times, he was absolutely glued to the TV. He's been watching both volumes one and two for awhile and only makes a few signs (milk, wash hands, ball and we're working on please), but recognizes many others. It's the ONLY thing that will keep his attention. I could bomb the house down around him and he would be sitting in the ruins still glued to the TV. He has a crush on Rachel (the host) and smiles big and silly whenever she appears.
  
  I haven't seen any of the original signing time videos, save for a few clips online) but it seems to me as if there's a divide. If you started watching the original signing time, you may not like these and vice versa. I love the Baby Signing time because it has lots of songs and music (and babies!) to keep his attention. Which is exactly the point. It's for babies. Older babies and children would probably find it boring.
  
  We don't let my son watch much TV, occasionally Sesame Street and Baby Signing time, as I think both of them are educational. I also find that the music on signing time, is about the only music on children's programming that doesn't make me want to put a gun to my head. We love to sing the songs to him. The only way I can wash my son's hands after a meal is done, is to sing the "wash hands" song.
  
  I would say that this DVD is ideal for kids 6 months to 1 1/2 years of age.
  
  
• Just a sing along
  By A2B5ZYPDNNYME7 on 2008-07-30
  I purchased this product because it was so highly rated. I was hoping it would be instuctional for me, in terms of introducing and effective implementation of signs. It's just a sing along. So if you are looking for a simple children's show demonstrating about 20 words, your typical repetitions and simple songs, it's o.k. However, if I were to do this over I would just look up the signs from an online website and demonstrated them to my child myself, saving the extra bucks.
  
  
• Excellent!!!!!
  By A2WIJGYNZWAQRP on 2007-03-09
  This is a great DVD. I bought this when my son was 11 month old. He's two now. He loved it and still loves watching it today. within a couple of months, he was able to sign all the words in both DVDs (Vol 1 and 2. I bought both as a set). He was signing before he could speak and still signs to this day. He's even teaching his babysitter how to sign. I highly recommend this DVD to all parents with babies or toddlers. My only regret is not teaching my son earlier.
  
  
• Great video to help teach signing
  By A32IAFXRNXS5DE on 2007-03-09
  My son loves to watch this video and it has helped him to pick up on signs so that he can better communicate with us. I strongly recommend this video. Not only does my son now know the signs, but it also helps him learn to say the words as well. He will say the word and sign the word at the same time which helps us to understand what he is saying.
  
  
• Perfect for new signers!!
  By A1BAKOBBF6W7EZ on 2007-06-09
  I bought this DVD for my 11 month old, even though I've been signing with her since early infancy. She LOVES it! She's picked up more signs in the short time we've had this video, than with just her and I signing over the last several months. She loves to see the other babies/toddlers signing and the songs are great. It's also very short (about 20 minutes), so it's just the perfect length for little ones (not too much TV time!). This is a must have for anyone interested in teaching thier child to sign. My daughter is now 12 months and can sign: more, eat, drink, banana, dog, finished, milk, ball, baby and bath.
  
  
• Buy this video. It's great!
  By A1JO36IAFPSSNT on 2007-09-02
  I bought this video when my daughter was 12 months old. By that time, she had learned about 10 signs. As soon as she started watching this video (and Vol 2), her signing exploded! We moved on to the first 10 videos in the Signing Time series. She's almost 16 months old and knows about 170 signs. The music and repetitiveness were very effective in teaching her (and me) the signs. This is a must buy. Forget Baby Einstein signing videos. They won't do the trick.Baby Signing Time Volumes 1 & 2 Plus 2 Music Cds
  
  
• We love Baby Signing Time!
  By AAIC2X5NVSGI7 on 2007-10-31
  I highly recommend Baby Signing Time Vol. 1 and 2! My son is 14 months old and we've been watching this series off and on since he was about 6 months. The songs are awesome and I love to sing along with them. We sing the songs even when the DVD is not playing and he lights up and smiles when I start singing and signing. His first sign at about 9 months of age was "more". And he is picking up more signs the more we watch the DVD. I was trying to use the signs frequently in our day to day interactions, but he signs more after watching the videos. He loves watching the video and smiles everytime he sees the DVD case. He has started sitting down in front of the TV to let me know he wants to watch it. Very highly recommended!
  
  
• Its a winner and sanity saver in our house!
  By AU58JSYW9T5UD on 2007-11-14
  I bought vol. 1 and 2 at the suggestion of a coworker. I found a good price here on Amazon ($25 or so for both). I started letting her watch it at 5 months--not too interested. I let her watch a few more times when she was 6 months, she would watch about 10-15 minutes before she lost interest. Around 7 months, she was hooked! She sits from the time I put in the dvd, until the credits roll. She is very engaged and we try to review the signs with her as we watch. She LOVES hopkins the frog. The kids are adorable and they demonstrate how a child may interepret the signs (their interpretation is not always exact I've learned!). She is now 8.5 months old and I just introduced the vol.2 and she just loves it! It gives us great time together, I sing the songs to her about "its time to eat" and "diaper dance" and "mom has a mom..." and she just smiles with delight and recognition. I highly recommend!
  
  
• Best Signing DVD For Kids, Hands Down!
  By A12MXH4IYDEA9B on 2007-11-27
  My 23 month old son was diagnosed with mild autism and a speech delay. At 22 months, he was saying about 5 words, and not regularly. His communication was about that of an infant learning to point and fuss for what he wanted. Intellectually he is very bright, so it was frustrating for both of us. I did a lot of research on the best way to help him in his communication, and I found Baby Signing Time. I cannot say enough good about this series!!! My son is communicating! Within the first TWO DAYS of owning the DVD, my son was already signing all of the signs on the DVD. At meal time now he will sign for food or drink instead of crying. He's happier, and it seems to be encouraging him to try new words. While he is imitating signs (which he seems much more comfortable with) he is also occasionally repeating spoken words now too...something he never did! This has been an absolutely huge breakthrough in communication for us. I recommend this to any parents or loved ones of a child with a speech delay. For us, it's just amazing.
  
  
• My Baby Loves This DVD
  By A2HKDSS04WSTEL on 2007-12-26
  My 7 month old baby went crazy for this video. She just loves it. It was, hands down, her favorite Christmas present. She laughs and makes all kinds of sounds when watching. Ironically, she spoke her first word, dad, while the video was teaching the sign for dad. She loves the host of the video and smiles and laughs every time she appears. I will be getting the rest of the series...
  
  
• Wonderful Learning Video
  By A17JG5H5AOL5YQ on 2008-01-01
  Our pediatrician recommended this video because she used it with her down's syndrome daughter to teach her sign language. It is terrific & my son loves it. He gets so excited when it starts to play. He is 16 mo old & I wish we had started using it sooner since we have been teaching signs since he was 9 mth old. We watch it once a day & his signing has really improved. I do wish I could get the "these are the pets I love" tune out of head!
  
  
• Excellent product
  By A2OXRI3T3EZ8BJ on 2008-01-05
  This is a wonderful introduction to sign language for babies and young children. The songs are so catchy that you'll want to watch it again and again (and the repetition is perfect for learning).
  
  
• Wonderful learning tool!
  By AD8PTQ4VN7RU on 2008-01-07
  When we decided to start signing with our baby, we started with a few books. It was good. But having the video is sooooo much better . . . there's nothing that replaces seeing the signs "live", and watching the baby try to sign (and say) along with the video has helped us recognize what she's trying to communicate. She adores the songs; it definitely makes learning fun & motivates her to learn more. Now that we know them, we sing them at other times (in the car, during diaper changes, etc). A wonderful learning tool for everyone!
  
  On a side note, our 18 month old has a larger verbal vocabulary than her older cousins. When she's learning a new word, both her verbal & nonverbal communications tend to be a little unintelligible. . . but used together, it's much easier to figure out what she's trying to say. Getting an early & frequent success at communication encourages her to try more, rather than getting frustrated & resorting to the point & "EH!" to communicate what she wants. And when you're in a large crowded store & what she wants to show you is the duck on the wall halfway across the building (how does she pick those things out anyways ? ), communication goes a long ways towards a happy baby. :)
  
  I'm so sold on these videos that I give one at every baby shower I attend. :)
  
  
• The BEST!
  By A1UYCF295HL3WS on 2008-01-25
  IMO, this is the best signing dvd for toddlers out there. My 19 month old LOVES it and so do her Daddy and I! It is well made, has fun songs and moves along at just the right pace. (we also tried my first signs and sharing signs which were very average)
  
  
• fun and educational
  By AH5SG4LC85K2V on 2008-01-28
  My 6 month old daughter loves this dvd. She watches from beginning to end completely mesmerized. She started making the sign for milk as she's drinking her bottle. she also tries to speak the words while watching and especially enjoys seeing the other babies sign!
  
  
• Communicate with baby!
  By A105LFG3MT4N23 on 2008-01-30
  My eleven month old daughter and I have been doing a couple of sections every other day for the last few weeks. This video keeps her attention for as much as 20 minutes and she is learning from it. In less than two months she was signing for milk. A great way to learn something new with your baby.
  
  
• My son LOVES this dvd
  By AI64SZ3W82OTP on 2008-02-09
  We have not seen the regular signing time dvd's so I can't say whether this one is better or worse than those. All I know is my 16 month old son loves this dvd. He enjoys the little cartoons, the songs and watching all the other babies do the signs. I don't allow him to watch much tv and none of the shows he has watched before held his interest for long anyway. With this DVD he will watch it from start to finish. I think he would watch it a few times through if I let him! He begs to watch this every day and gets sooo excited if I offer to put it on.
  
  I would really reccomend this to anyone who wants to try signing with their baby. We had already been signing some words (please, more and milk) when we bought the dvd and he has learned four new signs (food, banana, fish, hurt) since we've been watching.
  
  We have the second baby signing time as well but this one is his favorite.
  
  
• Excellent
  By A3B3F2EU70GVQ6 on 2008-03-28
  My 13 month old loves this DVD. After seeing it a few times, she really has started signing. She loves the songs and the other babies. I don't let her watch much television, but this is such a sweet and educational DVD that I don't worry about her watching it at all. Best of all, it makes her smile and giggle.
  
  
• Excellent
  By AINES8WVRVYKE on 2008-07-11
  My son who is now two has watched the original signing time of various episodes quite a few times. So when I saw that baby signing time was available we watched this first episode and I thought it was amazing! The graphics of the cartoon "Alex and Leah" can be a little cheezy but the content is excellent! We have watched Baby Einsteins "My First Signs" and My baby can talk "First signs" and baby signing times surpasses them! Baby Einstein "My First Signs" reviews many different words, too many words in my opinion. Perhaps this would be valuable if your baby is already confident in signing and needs to learn more words..except for the fact that there is no music to help with repetition. Now my baby can talk "First signs" is horribly made. The women is wearing white and is in front of a white screen(can't see her), the toys that march back and forth look like they are from the dollar store and the overall quality is poor. It's as if a high schooler decided to do this project with $50 to spend. Please don't waste your money or time watching these other versions of "Baby first signs". Baby signing time is very well made using words that are very applicable for those first learning to talk! I would recommend the series baby signing time and the original signing time to everyone!
  
  
• Awesome!
  By A3DRIJ42MNPU07 on 2006-12-21
  Of course I own this! I own every single item produced by Signing Time! They are phenomenal! If you're looking to learn ASL or to teach your child ASL, look no farther. Signing Time is a fun, easy, fast, entertaining way to learn ASL. Both of my kids were signing by age 9 months! Fantastic product!
  
  
• Great Signing Video
  By A3V30JGTWXC9EL on 2007-01-10
  Our four children all enjoy the Signing Time videos. Great songs and many common signs. We have watched them to help prompt speech. Very child friendly.
  
  
• 4 month old loves this video
  By A2GJYFVTUW6MEF on 2007-01-20
  I received this for Christmas for my 4 month old, and he is mesmerized by it. He'll watch it twice through, which is a pretty long attention span for him. He obviously can't talk or do the signs yet, but I believe that he will learn quite a bit from this video. We'll continue watching it and look forward to his first words & first signs.
  
  
• best baby entertainer we own
  By A1U4LSKYT506EI on 2007-01-28
  I am the mother of six-month old twins and we have watched baby signing time every other night since they were three months old. When this show is on, nothing can distract them, which isn't true of any other media we've exposed them to. They don't do the signs yet but I've been using them along with the appropriate songs ("Eat, eat, it's time to eat... and "diaper dance") and when I do this their eyes light up. Hopefully with understanding. We'll find out soon. But if nothing else, the fact that they LOVE this DVD makes it worth it the time to me. They don't like any of the Baby Einstein series and mildly care for Teletubbies. This they love.
  
  
• Wonderful and fun!
  By A1J461Z48X6CC3 on 2007-02-03
  The songs and the way she explains the signs makes it really easy to remember! My daughter just started watching these at 4 months, and she, myself and my husband are enjoying it! Lots of fun.
  
  
• Fabulous DVD
  By AHK2LVXXJ5HZU on 2007-02-03
  I was exposed to signing time at MOPS and was intrigued. This was the first one I purchased for my 3rd child, who was 8 mths at the time. I love, love, love this DVD. The songs are catchy, the whole production is entertaining, and it's helped all of us learn some simple signs to do with our little girl. My 5 year old is particularly into this series and loves doing signs all over the place. The baby, now one, loves watching the DVD and starts giggling as soon as it comes on. She has been doing several signs since about 11 months. Can't say enough good things about this. Of the 3 I own (both Baby Signing time videos, and Everyday signs) this is the clear favorite, but I've watched it quite a bit more than the other 2.
  
  

• Baby Signing Time! Volume 2 DVD
• Signing Time! Volume 1: My First Signs DVD - Revised Edition(Two Little Hands Productions)
• Signing Time! Volume 3: Everyday Signs DVD - Revised Edition (Two Little Hands Productions)
• Signing Time! Volume 2: Playtime Signs DVD - Revised Edition (Two Little Hands Productions)
• Signing Time! Volume 4: Family, Feelings & Fun DVD