Singer and songwriter Gaia has been singing original songs with sing-along — and sign-along — lyrics for over 12 years. This video helps to expose children to the beauty of sign language, and is meant for hearing as well as deaf audiences. It runs for approximately 50 minutes, and contains very upbeat songs, signs, and dances.
The setting is Handlandia where everyone signs, dances, and learns to communicate in sign language. Viewers meet up with not only the bubbly star of the show, but also lots of children, a funny elf named Jonnie, and even animals and trees that know sign language! There are 8 original songs altogether, with titles like "Hands Dance", "Confidence", and "I Love to Sign".
The video comes with an insert containing the lyrics to the songs with "poetic translations" in American Sign Language.
There is a wonderful and positive theme that permeates this video — that each one of us is special despite all of our differences.
Gaia started KidSign Club, an online club for kids and families (deaf and hearing), featuring songs and sign language.
We found the songs very energetic and cheerful and the constant movement and bright colors appealing to children. Parents of children who have never been exposed to sign language should not expect them to learn to sign from this video alone — the signing is done very fast (especially the letters of the alphabet) — but Gaia Sing Dance 'n Sign will provide some groundwork for learning sign language. Certainly, the positive message and exposure to this important way of communicating is worth the price of the video alone.
