Back in the days when I carried a Family Affair lunch box to school, I only remember their being one language taught, American English. Notice I didn't just say English. I have been to the land of Blue Bloods and Spotted Dick and can assure you, we do not speak English in the states.

In the mid nineteen seventies, my elementary school, located in Galion, Ohio, began experimenting with Spanish language classes for fifth and sixth graders. I say experimenting because that is how it seemed. We were marched, single file, boy-girl, tallest to shortest, richest to poorest into the gymlunchatorium, where we were teamed up with a half dozen high school Spanish students. I was assigned to Senor Todd and Senorita Beth Ann. I have fond and vivid memories of them both smelling of McDonald's french fries.

The Spanish language tutoring took place every Friday afternoon at one o'clock, sharp. I couldn't wait. I imagined Professores Todd and Beth Ann were learned academics, yearning to pass on every nuance of a language they spent countless years perfecting. To me, they were the pinnacle of awesomeness because they got to drive to my school in Todd's car instead of on a bus. A Ford Pinto, I believe, was the steed of choice for Todd. You know, the car that started blowing up after that news story. Time and experience has taught me that these were simply two seventeen year old kids who got some extra credit and time out of class for teaching a few fifth graders how to count to ten like a Mexican.

Fast forward to the new millennium. If you flashed on the year three thousand, back up a grand. I'm talking about the present day. Children get to to choose a second language to study while still in pre-school. With the newest immersion techniques, a second grader can fluently declare his Canadian citizenship in Afghan or Farsi.

My wife, Hannah, is a trained, degreed educator and one of the sharpest women out there. Long before we began having children, she told me she wanted ours to learn a second language. I told her I was confident I could teach them to count to ten in Spanish. She just smiled, slowly shook her head and gave me that look which said, you will have nothing to do with this. She then told me about studies indicating children who are introduced to ASL at a very early age show significantly less of the negative behaviors attributed to the terrible twos. I was amazed. I told her I had no idea the American Soccer League was involved in teaching kids how to speak other languages.

My beautiful wife stood, staring directly into my eyes for a full forty seven minutes, without uttering a sound. I saw every emotion cross her face. Some several times. Especially sorrow, wonder and a little fear. Once she came around, I was informed that ASL stands for American Sign Language. Most commonly used by the deaf and hearing impaired to communicate using a set of standardized hand signs and facial expressions. I immediately realized the possible benefits and began researching the ASL. The one where you are encouraged to use your hands, not the kicky one.

We settled on a program called Signing Times. It is a well-produced, high quality DVD series, designed in a fun way to teach adults and toddlers basic sign language. We purchased the entire series and have used the videos to teach our boys and as reference tools for ourselves. I cannot express how much easier our lives have been made by teaching our children some basic signs.

The experts say that children who are near the age of two have trouble communicating their wants, needs and feelings. So, they act out in frustration. We started our boys out watching the Signing Times videos as soon as they could focus on the television screen. It has paid off in dividends. Grayson (3), can access and use approximately sixty-five to seventy useful signs. Miles (2) hasn't shown a strong interest in learning sign language and only uses forty to fifty signs. Lincoln (4 months) can recognize the signs for milk and more. I suspect he will be combining the two signs very soon.

This is not to say that your infants or toddlers are going to be magically transformed into little, quiet angels just because you popped in a DVD around nap time. There are always going to be tantrums and flying toy fire trucks. Teething, competition and fatigue will see to that. I am simply encouraging you to lighten your load a little by learning and teaching your babies how to express their wants, needs and feelings in a way that does not require speaking or complex problem solving skills. Try it. You'll have fun and learn another skill you won't list on a resume.

Oh, by the way, Family Affair was a television show featuring a brother and sister, Buffy and Jody, who lived in a luxury apartment with their butler, Mr. French. I was into the show, but how they rated a lunch box is a mystery to me. Their single father spent most of his time away from them, working. Is there a sign for lame?