anyone been to Tiny Talk baby signing classes

[joorla]

Hi

I'm thinking about joining the Tiny Talk baby signing classes in January when my DD will be 5 months old.

Has anyone been?

Is 5 months too young to start?

I'm really eager to get her started so we can learn to communicate together but do you think 5 months is too young?

I go to Sign & Sing which is probably slightly different.

Rookiebaby was the youngest there when he joined at 6 months, but I spoke to the teacher and she said that the younger they go along the better. Apparently they are not likely to sign until 9(?)mths or so, but will be taking it all in.

Must admit I find it a bit frustrating because some of the older babies are doing definite signs and ours just isn't but hopefully it will come in time

The classes are good fun anyway as I feel I am learning something, rather than just a singing class where I just feel like I am going mad !

Practicing in between is good as well, we bought the DVD so that DH can learn the signs as well .

any of the baby sign classes are for the parent to learn some signs to use with their baby every day. no "teacher" is going to teach your baby signing at this age. what ever age you start you probaby won't see any signs back at you til they are about 7-9 m/o.
DH & I've been signing a few things with ds since birth and more since 6m/o hes jsut started using one sign indiscrimatly at 8m/o . EVERY THING is "milk" this week! Its a pretty normal way for babies to start signing, rather like the bababa babble they are doing with their voice.
He was about the youngest at a sing and sign grorp at 6m/o, but I'd have started at 5 if he'd been 5m/o at teh start of term.

I went to Tiny Talk with my ds - from when he was about 4 months old until about 10 months. The earlier the better ime; I think it was more about teaching me the signs so that I could do them at home, and also plenty of songs and rhymes that you could use signs with, than doing anything much for the child there and then. In my class there were always younger babies and once ds could crawl he actually wreaked havoc as he was always going off to drop toys on babies' heads and tip people's cups of tea over! It does take a few months for the signs to really sink in but I found that he recognised them at around 7-8 months, eg when I did the milk sign he would crawl over for some.

Started taking DS at 16 weeks...and still going (though not so regularly) now at 2 and a bit. He has loved it from the very start - lots of singing and other babies to look at, and sociable for parents. DS started signing at about 8 months. You have to use signs regularly at home for them to really pick it up and be useful.

I haven't been to classes but the book is fantastic.

Chelltune - just curious - how are you using the book? Do you just look up signs you need and practice them, or work through the whole book systematically? And is your baby responding?

I started signing with my DS1 at 5 months, I was really committed but found that unless DP and anyone else who cares for the child, ie grandparents and nursery (went at 10 months) can sign as well, then well there didn't seem much point. It just seemed daft to teach the child signs that only his mum could understand and leave him unable to communicate with anyone else, I thought this would make him a bit frustrated. My friend is currently going to baby sign classes and has a great time but personally it seems a lot of money, you can get the book and teach yourself the signs and use them whenever a word comes up, wherever you are, instead of learning a few signs each week at a class.

problem with book alone can be- unless you are very motivated and good at learning from a book- its easy to stop bothering, a class helps keeps your interest up and can help with idea on how to use signs every day from other signing mums. Also, many signs move in space and I find that hard to pick up from pictures in a book , easier from a dvd or video maybe.
Agree that it helps if more than just mum of a kids carers sign.

Flock, obviously its up to you how many signs to introduce but I would start with 3. I used milk, more and eat.

Once you feel comfortable with those then add another. Choose signs which are relevant, for DD/DS that was dog as their grandparents have a dog. Maybe your child has a favourite cuddly rabbit that s/he carries everywhere so 'rabbit' would be a good sign.

Hi
I started @ 41/2 months with DD. It is good fun, gets you out of the house to meet and natter with other mums and is sociable for your baby. DD started signing back milk at around 24 weeks, she had just started signing whilst feeding and then it was really funny as she saw a large breasted lady and signed milk to her, lady thought it was cute that DD was waving at her.
I actually spoke to the lady who ran the class I joined and she advised me to start using the basic signs eg milk as soon as possible as it is the repetitions out of the class that teach your DD. The classes are for you to learn the signs and then teach DD at home.
When DD started at nursery I felt it was really useful for her to be able to indicate she wanted her nappy changing or needed a drink before she coud talk. I don't think you can be too early, just choose a few signs that are meaningful for you/your DD and get cracking now.
Encouraging those around you is good as well as the more of you that your DD sees signing the easier it will be for her to associate actions to the meanings.
Good luck and remember the main thing it should be is fun.

Chelltune - thanks for the good advice. I went to a taster class a few months ago but was a bit overwhelmed by the huge number of signs used; just starting with one or two from a book sounds more do-able, and your first three sound like useful ones.

thanks for all the info. we're definitely going to sign up for January term now.

cant wait to start.