More new teachers November 10, 2011

It’s been a while since I updated this. Where does the time go? Since I last wrote we have 2 new teachers, Dawn and Jayne. Dawn had her first class yesterday and today she heard that one of the babies had already made their first sign!. Woo Hoo! Well done Dawn…and the baby of course….

For those of you with an iphone/ipad or ipod we now have a babysign app. It has already received some lovely reviews and I’m thrilled to bits! The footage of the babies signing is sooooo cute. please check it out and let me know what you think.

Facebook July 20, 2011

Finally my daughters persuaded me to set up a facebook page. I’m so glad I caved in as it’s a complete revelation to me. I’ve had people telling me how amazing their babies are and how their use of babysign has encouraged speech and other wonderful things. It’s so nice as I heard yet another “so called professional” saying it will hinder speech. Well she only needs to check out my facebook page for proof positive that she is WRONG! I’m sure that one day people will all routinely sign with their babies. Bah humbug to that so called “professional”!

A new teacher for Exeter April 14, 2011

 Sam my wonderful babysign teacher fron Exeter is sadly leaving us for a while. Sam is going to train to be a school teacher and what a brilliant teacher she will be. I will miss her very much but wish her the utmost success in her new career.

On a happy note I am thrilled to introduce our newest teacher who is Sophie from Devon. Sophie will be taking over the Exeter area from Sam and I know she will be an excellent babysign teacher. Welcome to babysign Sophie!

Owen and Charlie April 5, 2011

Evonne sent me these photos of Owen and Charlie who attended my classes in Chelmsford. They are brilliant signers and also little darlings! Is it just me or do they both look very guilty about something? I wonder what they were up to! 

If you would like to see your baby featured then please send your photos to sue@babysign.co.uk

New Teachers April 5, 2011

babysign is now officially international! I’m very pleased to say that Shelley who moved to Australia a couple of years ago is about to start teaching again which is brilliant news.  Also…we have Nina who lives in Madrid in Spain who has also joined us at babysign. Welcome Nina. I have to say that Nina sent me the most adorable photo of her daughter Sofia that I can’t resist adding to my blog.  She totally brightens my day every time I see her little face!

Just as importantly I want to give a huge welcome to our other new teachers Victoria and Lisa who are teaching in Newcastle. We haven’t any teachers in that area of Britain so I’m absolutely thrilled that they have joined us.

We are very lucky here at babysign. Teaching babies babysign is very important to us and all our teachers are hand picked so we know that we have the best possible teachers for babysign. Welcome Nina, Victoria and Lisa!

New Phone March 2, 2011

I bought a new phone yesterday. I have to admit the main reason was the colour. I hate to be pathetic and girly but it’s the same lilac colour as the babysign colours. It’s a blackberry and I thought I could handle it. Yet…despite instructions from virtually everyone I know under the age of 30 I can’t get to grips with it. I can’t even text unless I accidentally press the right buttons. My 17 year old (who thinks she should have the phone as I don’t appreciate it) has given me 3 days before I give up and she claims ownership! I won’t admit defeat but I have to say that technology really isn’t my thing. I still remember the days before mobiles……

IQ levels! February 20, 2011

I was in two minds about whether to write about this as on the one hand it looks as if I am showing off about my daughter’s achievements but on the other hand this is information too important, not to mention exciting, to pass on.

It was my 7 year old daughter’s parents’ evening last week. I know she’s a fairly bright child as my other daughters are, so I wasn’t expecting any major shocks. However my daughter’s teacher completely blew me away with her comments. She said that although she is only 7 her reading ability is almost that of a 12 year old. Her comprehension and vocabulary is off the scale and she has a gift for creative writing that should be nurtured. Of course I was pleased but also a little puzzled. As the youngest of 4 children my daughter doesn’t get the attention the others did. I read to her at bedtime  and listen to her read to me but that is just about the limit of my input. It suddenly dawned on me that her abilities must be as a result of babysign. We used it from only a few months of age and stopped (except for a couple of her favourite signs) when she could speak. That small window of opportunity has to account for this. I’m constantly spouting the virtues of babysign as it increases IQ levels and here is proof positive! I’m thrilled for her but also thrilled that it’s because of babysign. If you’re currently signing with your baby then please continue. It really does work on all levels!

Bad Backs And A New Term January 13, 2011

It’s 2011 already! Really I don’t know where the time goes. The English family had a quiet Christmas. One of my daughters had flu and missed the entire event! I hurt my back and ended up with a trapped nerve. Very painful and left me unable to do anything other than moan and groan. My husband could take the messy house no longer and decided to clean the bathroom….a first in our many years together. He was in there ages and then announced that the cleaner I had given him didn’t work like the adverts. He had sprayed the bath and then waited for it all to miraculously disappear! After a brief discussion on the dangers of believing everything you see on TV he continued. It took him hours to clean the bath but I’ve never seen it looking so sparkling! Somehow I don’t think he’ll be offering again.

My back is now on the mend and my new term of teaching began on Tuesday. I have a group of Mums from and NCT group who have 2 month old babies and they are adorable! I had forgotten how tiny these little ones are. I could just sit and watch them all afternoon. In the improver’s class we have lots of families returning  who have older children too. Most of the older ones spent their time chasing round a chair at the back of the hall. What the fascination is with an old school chair I don’t know but they were laughing and giggling non-stop. Oh to be young and nimble again!

Working Together Day November 28, 2010

Owen Signing “Biscuit”

Last Saturday I was asked to speak at a “Working Together Day” in Stanford le Hope in Essex. The working together days are held annually and are for Deaf people and professionals working with deaf people.

I was asked as  although most of the people who come to our classes are hearing with hearing babies I think lots of hearing parents who have a baby that has been diagnosed as deaf would benefit.

I’ve worked with deaf people for many years and I know that although they are happy to welcome hearing people into their world they have a different culture and language. I also know from personal experience that if you are new to sign language it can be a daunting experience. My hope is that by coming to babysign they will learn basic sign language skills, realise how easy it is and hopefully become confident enough to make that step.

Well, on Saturday I was asked to talk about this. I thought this was easy enough when I first agreed but as the weeks rolled by I became more nervous. Do you know the Catherine Tate show? One of the characters in the show always “steps up” when required. When a concert pianist is off sick she says “Oh I can do that” and offers to take his place in the orchestra…..but can only play chopsticks. An interpreter is need for a swahili speaking dignitary and she says ” Oh I can do that….” and speaks a load of gobbledygook! So now you see how I felt on Saturday! To my immense relief it all went well. Phew. Evonne and her baby Owen came along so Evonne could talk about her experiences of babysign. She is hearing but has a deaf family. She has taught Owen babysign and now he can sign with his grandparents so they aren’t excluded from communicating with him. Owen was also a bit of a star and showed everyone his sign for biscuit. He’s such a darling.

Another good thing is that someone who was at the workshop has approached me and is thinking of becoming a babysign teacher. How wonderful!