I have been Baby Signing since early 2001, one of the first to introduce signing to babies in the UK. I launched The Best Start Club in Hertfordshire in 2005.
Starting with my son, now 7, from 2 months, I signed with my daughter, now 5, from birth. It was extraordinary, my little girl clearly recognised her first sign at just 4 weeks, and thus began her own magical journey of discovery. Simple concepts like asking for 'milk', telling us they were 'tired' or sharing their joy or excitement, brought us deeper into their world.
Having explored every opportunity imaginable to sign, through singing, dancing, play, stories, games and so much more, the fun took over and thus began the first foundations of The Best Start Club. I wanted this to be much more than just Baby Signing, yet all focused around this amazing path to early communication.
I have now seen many of the long term benefits of signing with "hearing" children personally with my children who are bright, confident and express themselves well. Daily, I see, the clarity of speech developing in children in The Best Start Club, many still coming after 2 years.
It is my heart felt driving passion that this work enhances the lives of babes and children. It's in the title, The Best Start Club; that's just what we try to give each and every young life we encounter.
We believe that each and every child is an incredible human being with the most extraordinary intelligence waiting to be unlocked.
Having discovered the joy of signing, I studied BSL (British Sign Language), qualifying at the University of Hertfordshire. My background is also musical. I studied piano with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and both classical and acoustic guitar. With a group of friends, in Ireland, we formed The Green Emerald Choir in 1995. We recorded the album "I Will Arise" at Rickling House Studios in the UK, selling several thousand copies across the world. I also hold an internationally recognised teaching certificate from the world's largest independent music and movement organisation for children, not to mention being a trained Commercial Pilot Instructor.
I look forward to personally meeting you and your baby soon,
Iris Powell
Genevieve Overy - Baby Signing Teacher
Genevieve teaches classes in Hemel Hempstead, Watford and central St Albans. She is a qualified Primary School Teacher working in Watford with a BSL background. She is currently training as a Kindermusik Teacher.
Michelle Tucker - Kindermusik Teacher for Hertford and Ware
Music has always been a part of my life. I enjoyed a very musical upbringing and started formal music training in piano at the age of 7, which I continued all through my schooling. Piano always remained my favourite instrument, but I also tried my hand at classical guitar, flute, and alto recorder.
Originally from South Africa, I moved to the UK five years ago after completing a higher degree in Accounting. I live in Hertford with my husband Paul and daughter Amy.
It was whilst contemplating a new career after having Amy that this unique opportunity arose. I was looking for a way back into music – something that would enrich not only my life, but that of my family’s and those whom I teach. Kindermusik is all that. It’s a fun and dynamic programme, written using the latest childhood development research, and in all ways committed to and focused on the child.
I believe that music is a crucial part of early learning. It helps children make sense of the world, and together with movement, provides the platform for children to soar developmentally.
What I love about Kindermusik is that it’s more than just learning music; it’s about the whole child. Kindermusik fosters learning and growth in all areas of a child’s development (social, cognitive, language, emotional and physical), and lays foundations for a lifelong love of music.
Join me in the fun & magic of Kindermusik at The Best Start Club. Together let’s put a song in your child’s heart!
Michelle Tucker
Shelley Healy - Baby Signing Teacher for Sheffield
I was 18 when I first became interested in Baby Signing after seeing it in a child development documentary on TV. I knew from then on that I would sign with my children and that baby signing was something to get excited about.
When we had our son, James, in 2007, my partner, Stevi, and I were eager to get started and we began signing classes when he was 10 weeks old. A year on and we have a very contented and sociable signing toddler who is interested in everything the world has to offer.
I feel that my academic background equips me well in the understanding of just how baby signing works to promote excellent language, cognitive, emotional and social development. I have a BSc in Cognitive Science, which incorporates Psychology, Developmental Neuroscience and Language Development/Linguistics in its discipline; I have furthered this knowledge by taking a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology and I am now studying for an MSc in Health Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. Baby Signing is quickly becoming a 'hot topic' in the academic world, with many Psychologists researching its benefits - James and I have even taken part in one of these studies.
Over the years I have also had a strong love of music, especially singing. I am trained to RSM Grade 7 in Classical Voice and I also play both Classical and Electric Guitar. I have performed in over 50 Plays, Musicals and Concerts, including touring Prague, Vienna and St. Petersburg as part of a choir, and performing at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Hertfordshire County Youth Choir. I have also worked for charities including The British Red Cross, Relate and The Association of Young People with M.E. and am passionate about helping and supporting people.
Social, cognitve, language, emotional and physical development begins from birth and signing with your baby is one of the best ways to encourage this development and bond with your child. Being able to communicate with your child before they can speak is a magical experience, and The Best Start Club helps to share this magic with everyone.
We also have other teachers currently studying in our Training Programmes.
I have been Baby Signing since early 2001, one of the first to introduce signing to babies in the UK. I launched The Best Start Club in Hertfordshire in 2005.