Child extremely interested in C.I. technology

[lumiina]

As for the girl, I'm guessing that the neighbor who have CI does NOT sign at all. Therefore, the girl probably won't bother with signing. I have a car story that I'll save for other threads. Basically, bring the girl to Deaf/deaf events or volunteer with deaf organizations. She'll meet others and realize ASL is needed.

The girl (the neighbor) signs a bit when she has her magnet off (like while swimming), but mostly just lip reads and talks. Her mother (hearing) is actually more interested in keeping up her own signing than her it seems. But when she was a toddler, she signed so well (I've seen videos). I'm told she forgot a lot of it.

I totally see what you mean. There's no immediate need for her (the girl I nanny) to sign, so she's not interested in learning now. When she gets older and if she continues with audiology, I bet she'll come across sign language more and see the need. And at this age, it's possible that she'll stick with audiology. At nine, I wanted to work in childcare and write, and I still do both. So I shouldn't label it as a phase.

 

[CSign]

I don't think that at all! I know that the Deaf community is very diverse, and that many Deaf people use H.A. and C.I. But I was just wondering if this is strange or not that this girl is so passionate about C.I. and not so much about sign language. If it's not strange, then I'll just let her go on and pursue her dreams rather than try to guide her in a different direction. From my experience, I've heard from a lot of people involved with the Deaf community that C.I.'s are controversial, so I didn't know if it was okay. But, if there doesn't seem to be a problem with it, then I won't see it as one either. Exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for.

I find this thread rather odd. You are her nanny- not her mother. You really have no business "redirecting" her- unless that means redirecting her from something dangerous or a melt down. You really have no place dictating what she should be interested in or pursue. The other thing that seemed wildly bizarre is that you would equate her interest in CI's and technology as an indicator she might grow up as an Audist.

I was interested in history and WWII when I was a child- that didn't mean I grew up and became a Nazi supporter.

 

[CSign]

The girl (the neighbor) signs a bit when she has her magnet off (like while swimming), but mostly just lip reads and talks. Her mother (hearing) is actually more interested in keeping up her own signing than her it seems. But when she was a toddler, she signed so well (I've seen videos). I'm told she forgot a lot of it.

I totally see what you mean. There's no immediate need for her (the girl I nanny) to sign, so she's not interested in learning now. When she gets older and if she continues with audiology, I bet she'll come across sign language more and see the need. And at this age, it's possible that she'll stick with audiology. At nine, I wanted to work in childcare and write, and I still do both. So I shouldn't label it as a phase.

The mother likely continues with the signing because even though her daughter can speak and has a CI, she is still deaf. Expressively the girl may be able to speak, but that doesn't mean she has complete access to language receptively without sign. Often times kids with oral skills will drop their expressive signs when they are not around other individuals who are deaf because (sometimes) it's easier for them to speak. That doesn't diminish their need for receptive access to language.

Sounds like she has a good mom.

 

[lumiina]

I find this thread rather odd. You are her nanny- not her mother. You really have no business "redirecting" her- unless that means redirecting her from something dangerous or a melt down. You really have no place dictating what she should be interested in or pursue. The other thing that seemed wildly bizarre is that you would equate her interest in CI's and technology as an indicator she might grow up as an Audist.

I was interested in history and WWII when I was a child- that didn't mean I grew up and became a Nazi supporter.

I understand I was wrong now, as I've expressed. But if I had never posted it, I would've never come to realize that. I kind of wish I didn't post it because of the ridicule, but otherwise how could I learn? I heard about C.I.'s because controversial and didn't want her to inadvertently hurt people who felt strongly against it, and it was only a minor concern. I was obviously wrong, so I ask that people realize my thoughts are different now and not to bring it up any further because I feel stupid for it.

As an educator and person in childcare, I do have influence in how a child is raised. Haven't your teachers ever influenced you? And I am an educator because I am a licensed daycare assistant. However, I didn't want to influence her in the wrong way, which is why I brought it up in a forum where everyone is far more knowledgeable about all of this than me. Isn't that the responsible thing to do? I wouldn't have redirected her by telling her that her interest is wrong and putting her down for it. I never believed it was wrong to begin with, but just was worried that it was imbalanced because she didn't care for ASL. Instead, I would have just done little things like shown her kid-appropriate ASL videos on YouTube and such. I was only looking for advice on how to do that, only to find out that I was wrong in my thinking to begin with.

Also, I'm not just a nanny. I've been with this girl for eight years, and her family considers me like a sister to her. Many nannies end up in situations like these and play part in how the child is raised. And I don't do any of this behind her mother's back either.

The mother likely continues with the signing because even though her daughter can speak and has a CI, she is still deaf. Expressively the girl may be able to speak, but that doesn't mean she has complete access to language receptively without sign. Often times kids with oral skills will drop their expressive signs when they are not around other individuals who are deaf because (sometimes) it's easier for them to speak. That doesn't diminish their need for receptive access to language.

Sounds like she has a good mom.

I totally agree. She is a good mom. I was only pointing out the situation because one commenter mentioned that the neighbor must not be signing which is why this girl is not into signing.

 

[Bottesini]

Also, I'm not just a nanny. I've been with this girl for eight years, and her family considers me like a sister to her. Many nannies end up in situations like these and play part in how the child is raised. And I don't do any of this behind her mother's back either.

Rethink that a little. My daughter also has a mother's helper with your qualifications, and I am certain she would have a problem with the nanny thinking she was playing a part in her children's method of raising.

That is strictly up to the mother.

 

[lumiina]

Rethink that a little. My daughter also has a mother's helper with your qualifications, and I am certain she would have a problem with the nanny thinking she was playing a part in her children's method of raising.

That is strictly up to the mother.

They've told me directly that I have a part. But perhaps you guys don't understand what I mean by that. I don't go against her mother's method of raising her, but she trusts me with the decisions I make when she's under my care. It just means I'm an influence on her (as is any adult who comes into a child's life), so I have to think about the things I say to her and activities I introduce to her. For instance, I teach her Japanese and about Japanese culture. Not something her parents could do, because they don't know about the subject, but they know about what I teach her. Even when it comes to more serious stuff. Her dad was worried about her safety on the web, so she and I went through website programs about web safety for children. That was a directed instruction from him, not a decision I just made on my own, but I played a part because her dad didn't know exactly what to do about it.

Also, each parent is different. Some want their nanny or mother's helper to play an important part in their child's life, and some just want them to drive them around, make sure they are safe and that they do their homework. Of course, her mother and father are the ones that raise her. I follow their instructions. But it doesn't mean that I will never influence her, and if I know something about Deaf culture when her parents don't know much, I would like to help her develop her interest. But I'm not perfect either, and wanted advice. I got the proper advice and I'm thankful for that.

 

[lumiina]

My husband is advising me not to go on this forum any longer because it's making me to anxious when waiting for a reply about the ridicule that I might receive. I've been very emotional about it. Since I'm not really involved in American Deaf culture, though involved in an international Deaf culture, I probably don't really belong here anyhow, even though I feel if I continued I would learn even more. I really thank everyone for their dedicated replies and have seriously learned a lot. Hopefully this archive will help other onlookers develop their thoughts as well. Please don't think of me poorly. Who knows, I may be back some day in the future, using the same account. But I will probably avoid personal topics such as this.

Just as a side note since I'll be leaving for a while, thank goodness the second suspect in the Boston marathon bombings was caught. I'm very overjoyed by this. My heart goes out to the families affected by this tragedy.