Baby Signing and Music Classes for Babies and Toddlers from BIRTH to 4 Years. All classes are well structured to cater for the developmental needs of each stage. Music is sourced from all over the world, including a small number of songs in different languages and a large selection of instruments, puppets, and other props are used to enhance the process.
Our classes encourage curiosity in the child and stimulate all the senses. Each course is carefully planned to
be lots of fun for all and to offer the best developmental opportunity for your child. Rate Us
2 hour workshops
are available to book evenings and weekends for families or groups. These workshops are ideal for people who cannot attend classes but are open to everyone.
Introductory sessions
are provided free of charge to any interested group, including antenatal and postnatal groups, NCT groups or even a group of interested friends.
0 - 8 months - (Stage 1)
Introducing Signs
This gently paced course introduces the first stages of signing. How to sign, what to sign, and when? We will also look at what to expect on the way and learn to recognise your baby's signing attempts. Our focus is on parent & child beginning to understand each other.
Themed classes support routines & subjects that attract and support younger babies. The class includes a gentle massage of baby, calming for both mum and baby, also settling the atmosphere for the class. By using sensory exploration, rhymes, songs & a special bonding time, your baby’s growth & development are stimulated & all of his senses engaged.
The course also covers other beneficial subjects which support signing and help parents or carers better assist the baby in its very early days.
CO-ORDINATION
- help your child's brain and body work well together, building the pathways of the brain. Building awareness of our body.
ORIENTATION
- teach your child about its world
DEVELOPMENT
- how to identify the 7 'clingy' periods in your baby's first year
LENGTH OF CLASS
- Approximately 45 minutes of class time followed by about 10 minutes question and social time (all our halls are booked for 1 hour or more per class).
9 - 18 months - (Stage 2 and Stage 3)
Estabishing Communication (Core Programme)
These programmes seek to support baby's eagerness to learn, communicate and be better understood. Its finer developed motor skills make signing easier and allow us to introduce other fun activities including instruments, rhythm, listening skills and movement complimented by lots of music and songs.
Also covered in this age group are:
BUILDING CONFIDENCE -
give your child strong foundations
COMMUNICATION -
how to talk so your child will absorb language better
SETTLEMENT -
help your child handle its world
LENGTH OF CLASS
- Approximately 40 minutes of class time followed by about 10 minutes question and social time (all our halls are booked for 1 hour or more per class).
18 months - 3 years - (Stage 4)
Discovering Music, Rhythm and Language (Progressive)
Can you sound like an elephant or hop like a bunny? Encouraging your child to discover an enchanting musical world builds confidence, self-control & communication. Singing, rhyming & object identification foster language skills, supported by signing. Creative movement to various musical “moods” develops balance, timing & spatial awareness. Listening & turn-taking encourage blossoming social skills.
Building on the previous courses we now consolidate their understanding of signs and speech.
LENGTH OF CLASS
- Approximately 40 minutes of class time followed by about 10 minutes question and social time (all our halls are booked for 1 hour or more per class).
2 - 4 Years (Stage 5)
ABC Music and Me
Helping 2 - 4 year olds develop pre-literacy and language skills through a child's most loved ritual: music and story time
ABC Music & Me supports the early childhood standards and requirements for the “Foundation Stage Profile (FSP)”.
What you’ll experience in class:
Songs and rhymes to develop phonetic awareness and early reading skills
Tapping, clacking, and ringing rhythm instruments in time with music to improve
hand-eye coordination
Focused listening with music to improve skills in following directions
Instrument play to strengthen fine motor skills
Developmentally-appropriate songs to develop vocal chords and expressive speech
Learning that emphasizes storytelling, imaginative play, and taking turns
LENGTH OF CLASS
- Approximately 45 minutes of class time (all our halls are booked for 1 hour or more per class).
2010 - Stage 1 Courses start every few weeks - see booking form for details. All other courses start at beginning of term.
Book for Autumn 2010click here. (last updated August 2010)
The booking forms can take a few moments to download.
Alternatively please email us for a copy iris@thebeststartclub.com
Fill in the form and send it to:
Iris Powell
3 Cypress Ave
Welwyn Garden City
AL7 1HN
"With signs literally at your baby's fingertips, communication between you can flourish during that difficult time from about nine to thirty months, when your baby's desire to communicate outstrips her capacity to say words."
Dr Linda Acredolo Dr Susan Goodwyn
('Baby Signs' Vermillion, 2000)
From our parents...
"Sophie’s speech is coming on so much, everyone says how clear her words are, and the words she is using are the ones where she has also learnt the sign. It has given her such a brilliant start I just wanted to thank you and say we can’t wait for the next term to start.
Sophie's mum, Welwyn Garden City
I'm so pleased we were able to come back this term, Jackson enjoys the classes and has started to sign 'milk', and 'all gone' since returning.