Little Signer Help
Though not fully developed in this project prototype, this Help section would contain information for parents and caregivers on various baby signing related topics, as well as offer technical assistance and contact information for technical or billing support. Here are a few sample topics that might be included.
How can I tell if my child is ready to learn sign language?
How can I use this game with my autistic child?
How can I tell if my child is ready to learn sign language?
Though the average baby is ready to start signing by 6-8 months, this can vary a great deal. If you can answer YES to most or all of these questions, your baby is probably ready.
Does your baby respond to their name being called?
Can your baby mimic a hand gesture (such as bye-bye)?
Does your baby have joint attention (ie. the ability to focus their attention on the same thing you are)?
Does your baby understand object permanence (that an object exists even when it is hidden)?
Can your baby sit up comfortably without having to rely on hands for balance?
If your child has not reached these developmental milestones by this age, it is not necessarily a sign of a learning disability, so don't panic. If there is an area of concern for you, mention it to your pediatrician.
How can I use this game with my autistic child?
Little Signer is a flexible learning environment that works equally as well for babies as with older children who may
have learning difficulties. The settings menu offers some configuration options that may make for a more positive experience
for an autistic child.
Many autistic children become easily over-stimulated. Turning off the various audio settings can minimize this. Turning off audio may also be useful for children who are visually dominant. Additionally, some autistic children require predictability and structure in their endeavors. Little signer has settings for each game mode that allows signs to always be presented in the same order and fashion, rather than randomly. You may also want to consider using the game quilt in tutorial mode, so that your child can control the sequence of signs taught. Lastly, an autistic child may need to have each module presented more than the default repetition count of three. This can be increased in the settings section.
The most important thing you can do to help your autistic child benefit from this game, however, is to play along with them. This will allow you to observe the child's strengths and weaknesses and to bring up any areas of concern with the child's doctors.