TinyTalk Warrington, Newton & Lymm
Welcome to the TinyTalk Warrington, Newton & Lymm Scrapbook. Here you’ll be able to see what really goes on in my classes, as well as meeting all the clever babies showing off the signs they’ve learnt and now use all day long. It’s also a chance to find out what parents really think of the classes and baby signing. Enjoy!
Can I just say we have had a fantastic time at your lessons, loved every minute and have made a lovely couple of friends. Unfortunately work has got in the way boo :((. Can you say goodbye to everyone for me. Thanks again for such lovely lessons. Hope that more mums find out about TinyTalk as it is one of the best classes out there!
STORY: I will always remember the story a mum told me about when her twins made their first signs. The little girl had just signed 'duck' so she quickly picked up the phone to tell her husband the wonderful news. While talking to him on the phone she then spotted her little boy signing 'phone'. He obviously didn't want to be left out! - Thérèse
Abbey still uses quite a few of the signs we learned at TinyTalk especially the animal signs for mouse, frog, dog etc. Words can not describe how TinyTalk helped Dion and I to communicate with her. In the beginning she just giggled at our attempts to sign but up until that point we had rarely seen her laugh and she always had a blank look. With the signing she was so much more engaged and it definitely broke down the barrier between us. So to you I am eternally grateful.
STORY: The most amazing signing moment I think I ever had with Hannah occurred in the supermarket one day. She was constantly signing ‘dog’ to me and it was very puzzling as I couldn’t see one. It wasn’t until we’d finished shopping and I was unloading the shopping. I then noticed the dog food advert at the end of the trolley — complete with a picture of a smiling dog! That’s what she was telling me – silly mummy! - Thérèse
We have loved every one of the classes.They are really friendly, sociable and fun to attend. She uses the signs and the class has been really beneficial for both of us, especially in those early days when adult company was needed! I would like to Thank you for everything! You are a great teacher and i recommend your class to every mum i speak to.
STORY: Sophie saw a bottle with water in it, waiting for the formula mix yesterday and signed 'water' then 'milk'! It was fab! Janet mum to Sophie 10 months (Stockton Heath class)
I just wanted to let you know that Lewis is still signing. He uses milk, hot, pain, all gone, nappy and eat. He recognises all the animal signs we learnt and if you sign an animal will point it out in a picture but isn't really signing these yet. Lewis is nearly 17 months old and is just about walking. He only has a small vocab of spoken words so signing has been a great way of him telling us what he needs. We hit the "I don't know what I want but I want everything and nothing right now" phase a couple of months ago and as he can't quite say the words signing has stemmed a little of the frustration. Other than milk all gone is by far the most useful sign he has learnt and can be used to explain why people have left, why there is no more food, milk or his drink is finished, why a toy will not be appearing after being dropped for the 3rd time. So instead of the bottom lip trembling we just sign all gone and he moves on. Most of the time anyway!
STORY: Last week after the Christmas holiday one mum came to me with her mobile phone in her hand. Watch this, she said. It was a short video of her 7 month old son making his first sign 'milk'! It was wonderful to see it all in action. What was even better was when she told me how she got him to sign .... he was having his milk when she suddenly took his bottle away to see his reaction. His reaction was to look a little upset and to then start to furiously sign for 'milk'! Truely wonderful if not a little cruel. However it shows that he knows what he wants at such a tender age! Clever boy.
I remember the day I realised what a gift baby signing was when I saw 10 month old Hazel in my rear view mirror, sitting in her car seat signing 'dog', as I looked around there was a large dog walking past, I was amazed and she was so excited and proud of herself when I told her what a clever girl she was. Daddy has also seen the value of signing, he and Hazel came up with their own sign for cricket which he proudly showed to everyone and anyone for the rest of the summer season. This became her Grandad's favourite sign!
STORY: Emily has had a tummy bug over the weekend and yesterday she used the milk sign to ask for some milk. As she hadn't really been able to keep anything down for 24 hours she used it to tell me that she was ready for her milk.... She used it a couple more times to ask for milk yesterday, it was really useful for her to be able to tell us she was thirsty as we could gauge when she was feeling better enough to manage something in her tum.
Email from Lucy, Emily's (11months) mum.
I just wanted to say a big thank you. Your TinyTalk classes have been excellent and so valuable to Erin's development. She really enjoyed attending the classes, and loves to sign. She is missing the class already!
I first heard about TinyTalk from a friend who said it was "great fun". I took Hannah along when she was around 5 months old. She immediately loved the lively songs and as the weeks went by began to get excited, responding with laughs and giggles to the musical toys and action rhymes. Each week I was given a written reminder of the signs we had used during the lesson so I could use them at home as well. I started using the sign for 'milk' before every feed without any obvious response at first but within a few weeks Hannah was smiling and getting excited when I did the sign. I added the sign for food and started using signs at bath times and during the bedtime routine as well. My whole family became aware of the signs and also used them when possible in everyday situations. One morning when Hannah was 8 and a half months old, she asked for her milk without prompted for the first time! Now 14 months old, Hannah uses the signs for 'milk', 'food', 'thank you', 'dirty', 'sleep' and 'bird' but understands the signs for many more words. She is so expressive with her hands in general and it is fantastic to see her communicate with people around her. My friend was right, TinyTalk is great fun and so rewarding for the whole family.
