Maggie signs "Daddy." |
From Nicole: Maggie is now 16 months and she is signing SO many words. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to teach her this. It makes such an incredible difference being able to communicate with her. I think we are up to about 40 signs! People we meet love to talk about it too. We also have been signing occasionally
with a hearing impaired person who works at the local supermarket. That has been an eye opening experience. Here is a picture I just sent out to friends of Maggie signing "daddy." My husband was away for three days and she signed "daddy, work" many times a day while he was gone. It was so nice to be able to know what was on her mind and tell her "daddy, home, tomorrow." |
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Edie's Story: At a year old, James understood most of Edie's signs, but did not produce any. Until.... he ate lunch at a friend's home There was no room for his milk cup on his stroller, usually on the high chair tray. So, James requested milk from his mom, with a clear, deliberate sign!!! |
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From Kelly: Ronan has been taking Baby Fingers classes since he was 10 months old. By the time he was 12 months old, he was signing "milk," "finished" and "up." When we sang the "Watermelon" song, he would always anticipate the word "up" - he would sign and say it before we sang it. He loves when we do songs from class. His face lights up when he hears the first few words. Being a sleep deprived mom, I thought that it would be hard for me to learn signs, but because of our great teacher I was really able to retain so much. We then took the Level 2 class & Ronan continued to learn more signs. Signing really helped us to communicate with each other, making our bond even stronger. Shortly after learning a new sign, Ronan would say the new word. It was really amazing to watch the process of comprehension, signing, then speaking. I truly believe that signing with my son has really sparked his language development. By 16 months old he was already saying over 70 words. Now, at 19 months old, he is saying too many words to count. Even though he can speak so well, we are hoping to continue to take sign language classes. I believe it can only continue to further his understanding of language. It is also a way for him to improve his motor skills and learn a second language. Plus, the classes are just plain fun! |
Ayers signs "More." |
From Martie: A big reason I wanted to learn sign language with my son, Ayers (now one year old), is because when my nephew was between one and two years old, my sister was very frustrated -- Drew knew what he wanted, but he couldn't communicate it to Nikki. Nikki wanted so desperately to understand his attempts at communication, but it was mostly just guesswork and they both had many frustrating times. When I first began signing with Ayers, I thought I would probably just start doing the basics, such as "eat" and "more." But as I learned new signs, it became fun to go ahead and sign whatever I was doing while Ayers watched.
Every morning, I make coffee or we go to Starbucks. I always sign "coffee." I always thought, "Why do I care if he knows this sign?" But I went ahead and did it - he seemed interested, and eventually started doing the sign for coffee himself! One morning, it was getting late and I hadn't had any coffee yet. Ayers and I were just rocking and relaxing, but he kept looking at me and doing a sign. I couldn't figure out what sign he was doing. A lot of his signs look alike, especially when he first starts using them, though I usually can figure them out through context. With this sign, I was drawing a blank. So as we just continued rocking, he signed this unknown sign, and I told him I was sorry but I wasn't sure what he was saying. Finally, out of the blue, I said, let's go to Starbucks and get some coffee. Well, he got really excited and started doing "that" sign again! He was really "talking" to me as if to say, "Yes, Mommy, I was wondering when you were going to get your coffee!!!"
I can't tell you how exciting this was for me, because I knew what my 1-year-old baby was thinking! It never ceases to amaze me how smart babies are, and how much they really know and remember. With signing, I have many clues into Ayers' mind and I can really see how he is thinking, what he is remembering, etc., and we can actually communicate through language.
When Ayers had a bad stomach virus for 10 days, the only thing his body could digest was breast milk. It really made a big difference in how he felt, too, to have the milk. Signing made such a huge difference for us during this time, because he would sign for milk often. I think without the signing, he would have just cried, and I wouldn't have known what he needed - sleep? Tylenol? But through his signing of "milk," I always knew when he was ready for more. It was wonderful. Then, as Ayers started to get well, he started signing "eat." This told me that he was ready for some food. It was so incredibly helpful, to know what he wanted/needed at what times. The illness was very hard, but I can't imagine how much harder it would have been without the sign language. It is wonderful! |
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From Tara: As a Speech Language Pathologist, proficient in ASL, I frequently sign with young hearing children with expressive language delays. As the mother of a typically developing child, I loved participating in Baby Fingers Mommy and Me sign classes with my daughter Abigail. We began at 5 months old, and at 9 months she began signing--months before she developed spoken words. She participated in story time by using the signs for animals in her picture books. By 14 months, Abby combined signs and words to formulate two word phrases and questions. Sign language definitely enhanced our communication. Abigail continued in the Baby Fingers Nursery program at age 2-3 yrs and absolutely loved it. She continues to love signing at story time; signs have been wonderful cues for learning concepts of colors, days of the week, and now letters of the signed alphabet. Baby Fingers provided an ideal setting for a child's first nursery experience, a place where children can socialize and learn in a loving, comfortable, developmentally appropriate environment with nurturing teachers. Now our 5 month old son Joshua is enrolled in the mommy and me program!! |
Gregory & brother Adam | 
Now little sister Aries, at 14 months, is an active signer too! |
From Alina: The very first complete conversation I had with my fourteen month old son, Gregory, came thanks to the signing he learned from Lora. Gregory was standing in front of the refrigerator, and I asked him, "Do you want to eat?" He shook his head no, and signed, "Drink." "Would you like some milk?" I asked him. He shook his head no and made the sign for water. I poured him a cup of water and he toddled away, perfectly happy.Signs also helped me to understand what he was trying to say, once he started talking, but his pronunciation wasn't clear. When Gregory was fifteen months old, he kept saying something that sounded like "Ban," which, at that time, could mean "book" or "block." But when I offered him those items, he shook his head no and continued insisting, "Ban." When he saw that I wasn't understanding, he made the sign for "Bath!" He was tired and wanted his bath so he could go to bed!
Aries started signing "milk" at less than a year old, "more" shortly after turning twelve months, and got very emphatic about "again" at fourteen months. (She also said it at the same time as she signed it; obviously signing did not delay speech in our case.) Now, at fifteen months, she responds to about a dozen different signs. Her favorites to do herself are "books" and "read" and especially "music" and "dance." What's been especially helpful is that, since Aries is being raised bilingual, for me to show the sign whenever I say the Russian word for an object, and when I say the English one. I think it really helped cement the idea that they stood for the same thing. |
 | Miranda, (Lora's neice) 6 months (left). At 2 years, she understands English, Spanish, and simple signs, and uses each of the three languages to communicate! |
 | Inaki, (left) started in our mommy and me classes as a baby, and continued for 2 years in our nursery program. After a morning of baking muffins, painting and gluing, making lots of music, and sharing toys, Inaki shared a kiss with Sian. :) Spring, '03 |
| More Baby Fingers students: 
SAM (6 mos) signs "Milk"
ZENO (13 mos) signs "More"
BEN (11mos) signs "Train"
ASHER (8 mos) signs "Person"
Juliet's Rhinestone Cowboy! Her son Christian signs "I Love You"
Lily (1 year) signs "More"
Lily signs "Car"
Benjamin signs "Daddy"
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What people are saying about Baby Fingers...
Lora is "a musician with a magical voice."
- Kelly Ashton and Pamela Weinberg, CITY BABY
"We are convinced that the sign language has jump started [our daughter's] speech/communication skills. It all remains exciting!"
- Dawn, Bob, & Charlotte
"Baby Fingers is a creative and nurturing program that grows with your family. We started when our baby was 3 months old.... now at 18 months he's signing, and there are still classes for him to attend. He can continue until he's 4 or 5 years old at least! We highly recommend this special program!"
-Happy NYC Family.
"Simply the best!"
- Sarah, John, & Lucy
"Great Party! We had Baby Fingers at our daughter's 2nd birthday party---it was a blast. Lora engaged and entertained 30 kids between the ages of one through four with her guitar, puppets, bubbles, songs & signs."
- NYC mom
"Our son truly thrived at Baby Fingers -- his confidence, concentration, imagination, vocabulary, social skills, and sense of humor blossomed, and the care and attention he received from Lora and her staff was unsurpassed. I'm so grateful for this unique and special nursery that's just right for kids in their twos; I can only hope his future schools will be as nurturing and attentive as Lora's."
- Elizabeth & Harrison
"We don't even live in Manhattan but Baby Fingers classes are worth the commute!!"
- Queens Mom & Baby
"As a stay-at-home dad, I have looked carefully for special things to do with my daughter. I am finally learning something right along with her! We are both stimulated, and meeting friends. We love this; my daughter especially loves the teacher."
- UWS Dad & Baby
"By ten months, Zak could sign milk, more, all done and help; this cut down tremendously on frustration! By a year, he had 10 to 20 signs. We were so impressed with Lora in mommy & me classes, we were thrilled to learn about the nursery program. I would not have sent him anywhere else, it's an incredibly stimulating setting in a nurturing environment, a very high teacher/student ratio. The nursery program transformed Zak. Lora gently and warmly guided us through separation. Zak's language skills have thrived; we have full conversations. I'm constantly surprised and amazed at what he learns."
- Melissa & Zak
"This program is amazing. The music is so fun and the teacher is truly special."
- Upper West Side Mommy & Baby Boy
"Sign Language is a great way to communicate! My son loves the songs we sing in class and so do I! It's a wonderful, challenging way to learn and play."
- Kai-Ming & Inaki
"WOW! Glad I didn't miss this opportunity!"
- Mom in Midtown and Baby Girl
"I was fascinated to see my son at 8 months sign what he was seeing on our strolls through the park...what a great tool."
- Kim & Reilly
"Rachel's first experience with separation was made simple due to Baby Fingers' warm and trusting environment. I am completely comfortable leaving my daughter with Lora & her amazing staff. Rachel can't wait for Wednesdays & Fridays so she can go to Baby Fingers! She has matured and developed in many areas during her year in the nursery."
- Laurie & Rachel
"It works!! My son is actually signing to us at 10 months old!!!"
- Rebecca & Matthew
The Baby Fingers mommy & me class is such an amazing bonding experience for me and my daughter. She watches me so carefully, I can't wait for her to start to sign! It's a wonderful way to meet other friends who are also signing with their babies, and to share parenting experiences.
-Sara and Emily.
Our older son has gone through all of Lora's Baby Fingers classes and they are so wonderful. We have our younger son enrolled now too! All the teachers are great, each one with a special flair.
-West side family.
We found "Baby Fingers: Teaching Your Baby to Sign" in the bookstore and were hooked. Now we have all three of Lora's board books and anxiously await the additional two coming out in the spring. We sent our 8 yr old nephew Lora's "Sign Language for Kids" and he is teaching some of his school mates ASL! Fortunately, we live in NYC and have been able to start classes too!
-Manhattan Family.
Our 6 yr old had a blast at his birthday party with entertainment from Baby Fingers. It was personalized and engaging for all the kids!
-Xander's Mom.
Continue to check this page new signing success stories!
Lora Heller
Photo by Paul Colin
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