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Founded by a mother of two children with disabilities, Signing Time, an Emmy-nominated video and musical CD series, teaches infants, toddlers, school-aged children (and adults) basic American Sign Language (ASL) skills. The newest additions to the Signing Time DVD series Baby Signing Time 3 & 4, both include MDSC member Abigail Agudelo.
"When Abby was nine months old, we introduced her to sign language after reading that using sign language helped eliminate frustration with communication between parent and child, while also having a highly positive impact on a child's IQ," said Tony Agudelo, Abby's father. "Abby loves sign language and took to it like a fish to water. Today, she can sign in sentences and knows even more signs than her mom and I."
Signing Time held open auditions of children interested in becoming the next Signing Time stars this past Spring. Agudelo, who was hand-selected by Signing Time founder Rachel Coleman, traveled to Salt Lake City in May with her mom Wendy for a four-day, on-site taping session. Baby Signing Time 3: A New Day teaches nature, weather and following directions. Baby Signing Time 4: Let's Be Friends teaches signs for friends, emotions, fruits, vegetables and opposites. Abigail appears evenly across both DVD-teaching signs including ‘star' and ‘day,' among others. Both DVDs and correlating CDs debuted on October 1st and can be purchased at www.signingtime.com.
Parents unfamiliar with the concept of signing with babies will  discover that infants can use signs to express their needs and wants long before they are old enough to speak, virtually eliminating tantrums and nurturing mutual understanding. "Babies who sign have access to language much earlier than those left waiting for speech to develop," said Rachel Coleman, co-creator and host of Baby Signing Time. "The truth is that using sign language with babies and children who can hear is revolutionizing parenting in America."
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