Isle of Man

Nicki Gaskell - 01624 825144 - Email

Shortly after my daughter Aemila was born in November 2008, I began looking into baby signing. I had heard amazing things about it and I was eager to learn about this early form of communication with her. I was disappointed to find that there were no classes run on the Isle of Man. However, undeterred I bought a book and began using signs with her when she was around 7 months old. Aemilia did her first sign at 9 months. One day at the dinner table, instead of throwing her plate to the floor when she'd had enough, she sat back and did the 'finished' sign. At first we couldn't quite believe it but a few weeks later she began doing the sign for 'milk'. It was so exciting to realise that we had given her a way of communicating specific needs (and wants) with us so long before she was capable of speech. Other signs quickly followed but it wasn't until Aemilia was about a year old that I discovered Sing and Sign when I bought a DVD. Immediately I just thought WOW! this is how it's supposed to be done. Aemilia was captivated seeing the other babies signing and the songs made it so much easier and more enjoyable to learn the signs. Still I couldn't help feeling sorry that we were unable to be part of one of these classes, to meet other signing parents and babies and enjoy the social aspect of the group. I contacted the founder of Sing and Sign, Sasha Felix about the possibility of starting some classes on the Isle of Man and I am excited to be starting my second term of teaching sing and sign in september. Classes are now fully booked for the autumn term. However I am also running some drop in classes during the summer holidays, please contact me for more details, Nicki

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