"It cuts down on the frustration level in the classroom," explains Danielle Scott, 19, instructor at The Children's Hour day care at 5840 Canton Center Road.

"I'm a child psychologist and I really appreciate how they have tried to integrate sign language into the repertoire of infants," said Dr. Rashmi Bhandari, who takes 16-month-old son Aman Parekh to the center on her way to work at Children's Hospital in Detroit.

"He's able to communicate with me without having to whine and cry. He's able to tell me what he wants; he knows how to sign me something," Bhandari said. "The crew there is really caring, really in tune with the children's needs. They're loving people."

Reid and Jill Scott, who own The Children's Hour, plan in two years to turn over the operation of the family-owned day care center to daughter Danielle, who has worked in day care five years and is pursuing a early childhood education degree at Wasthenaw Community College.

While The Children's Hour isn't the first day care center to teach sign language to infants, the concept is still relatively new.

"They can tell you what they want or need and you can understand them right away," Danielle Scott said.

Infants at 8-9 months can learn signs for eat -- close and open fingers to the thumb at the mouth; drink, up, more, and thank you -- putting four fingertips to the bottom lip, then pulling them away.

These sign language words are in some cases simplified versions of those used by adults.

"Older infants can learn dog, Cheerios, banana and other words," Scott said. "It's really cool knowing you taught them that."

"You get to see them grow so rapidly and have a part in their development. You see them walk."

Her parents are also full time workers at the day care center, which has been in business 18 months.

Reid Scott said that when infants learn how to use sign language, it encourages them to talk. "They think if I can sign I can also speak," he said.

Licensed to handle up to 100 kids a day, the center currently has room as they are now serving 50 kids a week, Reid Scott said.

Currently, his wife Jill Scott serves as business director. "I am the bus director and cook," he said.

The Children's Hour also features a monthly Family Night, where parents are invited to hang out with their kids at the center. The next is scheduled for March 11; the theme is "Ice Cream Social."

"We spread out blankets and have popcorn and parents can rest for a little bit," said Reid Scott, a former janitorial business owner.

Parents typically drop off kids at 7 a.m. and pick them up by 6 p.m. Hours are 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Part of his job is to drop off kids at their respective schools, and pick them up and return them to the day care center.

The Scott family's mission is to be more flexible than other area day care centers, offering monthly rates $10-$20 cheaper and day care spots for kids with just 24 hours notice.

"We are a learning center, we're not just a place they watch TV," he said. "I love it because I get to interact with these kids. You become attached to them real quick."

Parents pay a $50 annual enrollment fee.

For more information call The Children's Hour at (734) 459-9920.

By Kevin Brown