Reading Libraries - Families Online

Baby Signing
It’s very frustrating being a baby. You know that you’re hungry, wet or bored but
how do you explain this to those loving, but ever so slightly dim, grown-ups? It’ll
be a year or two before your speech is up to it, so for now the only way to express
yourself is to open your mouth wide and CRY! But wouldn’t it be great if there
was another, more sophisticated way, to get your message across?
Well luckily there is! It’s called Baby Signing and it helps babies to
communicate using arm and hand gestures. Used for many years in the US, baby
signing is becoming increasingly popular over here as more and more parents
discover its joy and benefits. Your baby can actually tell you what they need,
reducing frustration on both sides. This in turn leads to less temper tantrums
and more confident parenting. And rather than inhibiting speech development,
research shows that signing may actually help a child to develop a wider
vocabulary.
Speech and language therapists have used gesture-based signing programmes
for many years to encourage speech in older children with delayed language.
However, more recently, some of these experts have developed similar
programmes aimed at babies at the pre-verbal stage of normal development. This
is typically from around 6 months up to around the second birthday. In the UK,
most of these baby signing systems are based on British Sign Language (BSL).
You can of course make up your own gestures or signs. The sign you use isn’t
really important, as long as you use the same gesture consistently. Not everyone,
however, can think up and remember a whole range of signs. Many find it easier,
and more fun, to follow an existing programme, either by attending classes (find
one on page 14) or by using a book or DVD at home.
Take a
magic
carpet ride
And journey over wind-swept deserts to
help Aladdin and Princess Jasmine rescue
the magic lamp from the evil Jafar! This
Christmas, children aged 4-8 years can
have fun at the Perform Winter Experience
course running from 20-22 December in
Wokingham Methodist Church Hall. The
perfect pre-Christmas treat, it also offers
parents some valuable extra Christmas
shopping time! For more information or to
book please visit www.perform.org.uk
Rugbytotsｨ is a weekly play
session for children between the
ages of two and seven.
Separated into three age
groups, Rugbytotsｨ combines the
multiple skills used in rugby with
a fun, energetic and structured
play programme designed to
enhance your childｨs social and
physical skills.
Find a class for your child – www.familiestvw.co.uk/classes
Early Years
A busy time at
Tumble Tots Reading
It’s been an exciting few months for Tumble Tots Reading. In September,
Helen Davey took over this popular children’s activity franchise, following
the retirement of the previous owner. Helen has long been a fan of Tumble
Tots, attending first with her own children, now 18 and 16, and then
as a member of staff, so she relished the opportunity to become the boss. One of her first jobs was to
welcome Peppa Pig and Sally Gunnell, who popped in last month to help Tumble Tots celebrate National
Children’s Activity Week.
The Tumble Tots activity programme was developed by a former Olympic Gymnastics coach and is
designed to build physical skills, confidence and self-esteem. Weekly sessions are run by specially trained
staff and combine enough fun, excitement and challenge for even the most active child.
Tumble Tots classes, suitable from walking to 5 years, are held in Reading, Woodley, Winnersh and
Wokingham, with new classes just started in Finchampstead. Gymbabes classes for babies, from 6
months, run in Woodley and Finchampstead.
For more information contact Helen on 0118 973 6711 or visit www.tumbletots.com/reading
Whether the next step for your
child is mini-rugby or ballet,
Rugbytotsｨ aims to provide the
foundations which will enable
them to progress with confidence.
All Rugbytotsｨ classes are fully
insured and will be run by an
RFU qualified lead coach who is
trained in paediatric first aid and
has been CRB checked.
For further information please call
0845 313 3255
michele@rugbytots.co.uk ｨ www.rugbytots.co.uk
The BSL Baby Signing and Sign
About series of books from Child’s
Play (International), www.childsplay.com
is a good starting point.
These bright, colourful board
books contain clear illustrations
and instructions for common signs
and are designed to be shared
with your child.
Tips to get you started
• Keep it simple. Start with just a few
signs – eat, drink, sleep, milk etc.
• Always say the word at the same time.
• Speak slowly, but in a natural way. Repetition will help
your baby to understand.
• Be realistic - don’t expect your baby to sign back
instantly – you wouldn’t expect them to talk back to
you the first time you spoke to them.
• Be consistent in the way you show a sign, however your
baby adapts it.
• Persevere – it can take weeks or more for your baby to
sign back to you – so be patient and relaxed.
• Keep praising your baby and above all have fun!
Thames Valley West
PAGE 13