sing and sign class useful?

[dreamaholic]

I have been thinking about taking my 9 month old baby to sing and sign class, when I had a look at the website all ED venues are on waiting list only. (apart from Saturday class which I'm not too keen) just wondering if any one on EDF has done it, and what do you think of it? Would you recommend for a 9 month old baby, and did your baby start to sign soon after the class?

Thanks in advance!

[jonbateson]

We didn't do classes as we have been living abroad, we bought some very nice signing board books and did a few a week, both children got on very well just doing that and were signing/ understanding an awful lot within a few weeks, I would recommend a book whilst you are waiting for a class to have a place.

[Bellenden Belle]

We did Sing and Sign when my little one was seven months. He just didn't have the concentration levels and I think compared to Baby Sensory and other classes we did there was a fair bit of sitting and listening. Others in the class loved it though.

Now at 15 months I can see he would probably get a lot more out of it. So I really do think it depends on the child - I was so keen to do it I didn't do a trial class and looking back I think that was a mistake, so take advantage of a trial lesson if you can.

[RoLo1]

It's IMO a very uplifting class! My twins did three terms from 6 months and if your child likes music/singing then I would think it's ideal. In terms of signing I think it took from about 15 months before that happened but it was so useful - my kids for months would pronounce 'milk' the same as 'more' for example, but there's no ambiguity when they are singing and saying the word, I found it brilliant.

So I would say if you are looking for a class with lots of singing, it's ideal, plus within a few months your baby could sign (signing needs to be used consistently of course, I wasn't consistent initially!).

I was a bit upset that my kids reached 2 years and therefore outgrew sing and sign...!

[Mens]

I didnt enjoy the classes at all. I don't see the point of them (this is just my opinion). I understand why they can be useful if a child is a late talker or has hearing difficulty otherwise I find they are uneccessary.

I have always understood what my children are saying without signing. Two of mine spoke in sentences from 15mths and were having proper conversations by the time they were 20mths (the two who didnt go to sing and sign) but even the one who didnt speak early could always let me know what she wanted even if she made up her own words for things.

Perhaps it is because my daughter didnt take to it that I thought it was of no use. Others may have had a different experience.

I did enjoy the social aspect. As with everything around here it is another opportunity to meet more mums and babes.

[OverTheRainbows]

Yes, definitely recommend! - but you have to be consistent in using the signs yourself at home too. Mine started at about the age of the OP's and it was perfect timing - started signing within about six / eight weeks, including making up own signs for things not covered that were important...think this is the perfect age, possibly because most can't verbally articulate what they want yet, but do have the understanding and want to convey their needs - and signing allows this. Mine was MUCH less frustrated once able to ask for food / drink / nappy change / sleep / park etc...it was really helpful to us both!

If there's no availability in ED maybe try surrounding areas / contact the organisers to see if there is any possibility of extra classes if there is demand (a friend in north London got things going that way) - or as someone has suggested, just do it yourself at home with the help of a book / internet...?

Mine naturally moved from signing to talking by about 18m (if I'm remembering correctly), with an interim period where unclear words were accompanied by signs. So I really do think this is a good age to go for it - later may not be as useful, as talking will be beginning...

[katgod]

I went to a talk/demo about it when my son was a baby. I was put off by a big toddler signing that he wanted a drink. He was definitely of the age that I would expect a child to be talking and thought it seemed likely to delay speech. No doubt there is evidence that it doesn't but it seemed counter intuitive to me.

[dreamaholic]

Thanks all for your reply. Guess I won't know until I try! Will try to get on a trial class.

[Pickle]

I think it's a bit of a marmite situation! I have friends that loved the classes and enjoyed the signing, and others that didn't get much out of it. I went to a trial when my first child was a baby but didn't really enjoy it, we went to other music classes and I've found that all of my kids are able to verbalise most of the key things (milk, ta, drink, snack etc) by just over a year.

Try a free class and see how you feel.

[mima08]

Hiya, I am sure it's for different tastes: we absolutely loved it and I was very sad to when my LO outgrew the classes by 2years. Bringing him up bilingual, I had worried as he took a while to start speaking more than single words (about 18month)so the fact that he was signing ferociously was a comfort. He started signing at about 14months (first recognisable words was Zebra...no idea why). Trish, who ran our class was wonderful with lots of other tips, too, e.g. making up little songs to chiffy LO along or introducing a change of activity - so overall, I would recommend it.

[Convex]

i really loved the first class i did, and the songs have been brilliant. i think the key is whether you sign at home, if you do that they will pick it up definitely.

we watch the dvd's regularly, these are shockingly expensive, so try to get them secondhand. And don't buy the app - its terrible - it crashes after 1 song and you cant get back in for ages.

mine started signing back at around 15months i think, which was the spur to start signing more regularly.

he is mostly interested in the animals signs but we are trying to encourage him to use eat, drink, nappy etc as these would be really useful.

so... you don't need to do the classes to get your child signing, books/dvds will help and its you signing that is the key. BUT the classes are good - def go to a class to check you like them. I loved them and am glad i did them(although there are some other great singing classes out there that i missed out on - tippitoes i would have gone to more if i hadnt spent all my dosh on sing and sign!)

[hernehillisabel]

I bought 'its signing time' on amazon with two signing ladies, it's AMAZING. I also paid for a 10 week ?75 signing course which has nothing on the DVD, my son loves to watch it and it involves lots of farm animals for him to see, althought I'm anti tv he loves it and he's started to pick up the signs, it's song about baby life etc and is amazing its about ?12 or something on amazon

Suggestion xxx