To think that I can go to this baby class?

[Gerbera55]

Background info:
A friend and I are both teachers so have an understanding of how language development works and how important it is. I am a mum to a 12 week old.
My council have released information about a language development focus baby class they are going to run at a local children’s centre. They haven’t announced cost yet, but based on other classes I have seen, it will likely be free or very low cost.
I saw my friend today and she asked about any classes I have been doing with baby. I told her about the baby massage and sensory classes I have been doing. I mentioned the language development class to her and she told me she thinks I shouldn’t go because I know how to support my baby’s language development, so I should leave the spaces for mums from low income families who can’t afford classes or for those parents who need support with language development.
In one sense I can see where she’s coming from, but equally my maternity pay won’t stretch to the more expensive classes for much longer and also I want to do as much as possible to support my child’s language development, especially with them being August born.

AIBU?

YANBU to go, of course not.

Of interest, this type of thing was a huge contributor to the Sure Start centres closing. The ‘wrong’ families were attending and so they were deemed not cost effective in reaching the families they needed to reach.

Yes, because…

I think it’s fine to go. I used to run these classes and they rarely had a full capacity of the ‘target demographic’. We often had mums much like yourself along.

I thought it was good as it

1. Filled spaces otherwise the class wouldn’t run again.
2. Often provided some positive role modelling to those struggling more.
3. Allowed those who perhaps were more isolated to make friends for them and their children who could perhaps help them afterwards too (it takes a village - and not everyone has one!).

so I think you’d be helping them to go along. If they have a criteria and it’s full they will tell you and allocate spaces accordingly. I think it’s likely not to be full, in my experience and you, your child and other children and their parents will benefit

If they are designed for the "poorer" population it would be publicised as such I.e. criteria is UC or anyone with SS involvement would be asked and added by virtue of circumstances.

If its council run they likely have a list with the aid of community HVs that it wants to reach. In my experience there are some who will take everything offered to benefit their child, the majority won't....it may be through shyness or its simply because they dont want to.

Op id prob message along the lines of, you wouldnt be classed as priority for a community run class but are happy to be added to a wait list if they do not reach their targeted audience.

Go to the class, OP.

There was a fairly long thread on here recently about a school parenting type course being run, but the only people who were invited were those whose children were in receipt of Pupil Premium. The OP's child was in receipt of PP and they wanted the course to be open to everyone as they felt they were being unfairly targeted/stereotyped.
If a mix of people attend these courses it might put others at ease.

Completely different subject but I volunteer at a Community Fridge. Ours is open to absolutely anyone who wants to use it - there are rules e.g. don't rinse it. The amount of times I have heard people say oh I couldn't possibly take the bread because someone in greater need than I am will come along and find there's nothing left for them. In reality we end up sending it for animal feed/composting because no one will take the bread.

So once again OP, sign up for the course.

The pp’s post I was replying to here was specifically whether an expert on child language acquisition would learn anything they didn’t already know at these basic classes.
The socialising with other mums and babies is a completely different aspect of going to groups (incidentally the op had said that she wanted to go for the language aspect, because she already had the social aspect covered at the other groups she attends).

So update on the class - it will be a drop in session and then they will look to change it to a bookable session if there is a lot of uptake.

Weirdly specific

Is the number of spaces highly restricted? If so I would agree with your friend - leave it for those that would need it more. If not, then of course go.
You could always phone them and see what take-up has been like.

OK I see the update. Sounds like uptake hasn't been huge so far anyway, so drop-in!

@Gerbera55 YANBU. Sometimes even when you think you know it all (or in your case when someone thinks you should know it all), you don’t. Yes even teachers.
Your baby is your child and not someone you just see in a classroom. You see your baby all the time and you are their number one carer, and there will be times where you will question things and question yourself. Having your own child is not the same as supporting someone else’s at work. So go to those classes guilt free! Ignore your silly friend.

I didn't comment, I asked a genuine question as the point of the thread is about a teacher attending the class.

You referred to the linguistics professor comment however appeared to say to the OP "If you were an expert in something, to the point where you’d studied the subject beyond degree level and now taught that subject at degree level, what exactly do you think you might learn at a course covering the fundamentals?" Implying that the OP was an expert and wouldn't learn anything from the baby class. Or perhaps your wording is just terrible and you didn't convey your point very clearly.

If you're going to comment on something, at least know what you are talking about. Or at least make yourself clear.

This. All you need to do to support your baby’s language development is to talk to your baby, and read to them. That’s it. Humans are hard wired to learn language.