LITTLE learners and their parents can find out more about baby signing at a new class which has launched in the Vale.
TinyTalk Baby Signing classes have kicked off at Cropthorne Village Hall every Monday with the aim of helping young families understand each other better.
Babies can use their hands to wave, clap and point at objects from around six months and the classes will teach parents a range of signs to discover what their baby wants to say.
Class teacher and mum Mollie Prior, said: “I started signing with my son Henry when he was six months old, now as he turns two he has well over 100 signs!
“It has enabled him to communicate with me long before he could talk, creating a strong bond between us and a lot less stress!
“The benefit of teaching your baby to sign, to be able to communicate with you from such an early age, is priceless,” she added.
When a baby then looks at or points at an object, the classes will tell them what it is and also show them the sign for it too.
For example ‘drink’ is the gesture of putting a cup up to a mouth – not only do the classes teach them the sign but babies are shown how to put the cup to their mouth.
“Although signing is fun to do with your baby, it’s also easy to forget that it’s so worthwhile,” said Mollie.
“You’re enabling your baby to communicate their interests, needs and thoughts long before they can speak.
“Why let them wait until their words can be formed? Babies have so much that they want to say before they can actually talk,” she added.
Now in its 15th year, TinyTalk was founded in 2002 by Katie Mayne, mum of two and former primary school teacher.
Nationwide the company now delivers classes to more than 7,000 families a week with more than 120 teachers.
After a session full of nursery rhymes, multi-sensory toys, instruments, books and playtime there is also time for parents to meet over hot drinks and biscuits.
Classes are suitable from birth to two-years-old and run on Mondays at Cropthorne Village Hall, Pershore and Wednesdays at Droitwich Methodist Church.
Visit www.tinytalk.co.uk/molliep or e-mail [email protected] or call 07432 612054 for more information.
