TinyTalk and 'Family Reading Fortnight'
TinyTalk, the UK’s favourite baby signing company, is supporting the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Family Reading Fortnight’ taking place from 8th to 20th January 2007 with the introduction of its new curriculum that includes TinyTalk Signed Book Time. TinyTalk teachers will share selected books with parents and their babies during a class, demonstrating signs for certain words with the aim to improve both language and early literacy development.“It is never too early to start introducing books to your baby. Reading with your child is a great way to help their speech and language skills as well as their early literacy skills. We have taken this much loved bonding time and incorporated the use of sign language to help illustrate the meaning of the words. Parents can use these same skills at home when reading with their children. Discussing storylines plus pointing at the pictures, making the signs and saying the words is a powerful combination for early language and literacy skills. With our exciting new approach we really want to foster a love of reading for babies,” explains Katie Mayne, founder and managing director of TinyTalk.
As part of its new curriculum, TinyTalk has developed 36 new class plans, 12 per term. The already popular, fun-filled classes will now feature revamped weekly signing themes, greater recapping of previously learned signs, a broader range of songs, still including lots of well-known nursery rhymes and action songs, and the TinyTalk Signed Book Time.
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Following the massive demand for baby signing in the US and Canada, TinyTalk set the baby signing trend in motion in the UK by going national almost five years ago. Baby signing in the UK is now growing dramatically. TinyTalk runs more than 200 classes a week, teaching over 2000 UK families the benefits of communicating with their babies. The company was also the first to introduce Organisational Training Programmes for nurseries and other childcare establishments so that childcarers can incorporate signing as part of their daily practice.
Mayne explains why there is such demand for baby signing classes: “Babies understand and are able to communicate far earlier than they’re able to clearly pronounce words. Signing helps ease their frustration by giving them the tools to say exactly what they want and what they’re thinking about! It also helps parents bond with their little ones as they have a deeper understanding of each other. Our new curriculum combines singing, signing, talking, moving, reading and socialising- all in a relaxed and fun way. TinyTalk classes are greatly enjoyed by parents and babies alike.”
About TinyTalk
TinyTalk run the UK’s favourite baby signing classes, helping babies to communicate before they can talk. Founded in 2002 by Katie Mayne, mum of two, primary school teacher and teacher of the deaf, TinyTalk has gone from strength to strength and continues to do so, bringing fun and enjoyment to baby signing. TinyTalk use BSL (British Sign Language) as its sign language of choice.
January 2007 |
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