Should I take my Baby to Sing and Sign?

Learning baby sign language can benefit your baby in a number of ways. Sing and Sign is a well-established company that has developed a successful method for teaching babies to sign using music and gestures.

What is baby sign language?

Even before they can speak, babies try to communicate and connect with those around them. Baby sign language utilises simple hand gestures to help the communication between adults and babies from a very early age, helping to strengthen the bond between parent and child and meet the needs of the baby. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to using infant sign language with your child; it doesn't matter which signs you use as long as you both understand what they mean. Many organisations, however, have created their own versions of baby sign language.

What is Sing and Sign?

Sing and Sign describe themselves as using a "fun" approach to teach babies to sign. Their technique involves performing actions while singing nursery rhymes and other songs. By adapting well-known songs - and coming up with some of their own - Sing and Sign teaches babies how to sign common words that they need in their day-to-day baby-lives. For example, words like “milk”, “more”, “music”, and “thank you”.

There are over 100 franchisees running Sing and Sign sessions across the country, which are easy to find with a quick internet search. In addition to their face-to-face classes, Sing and Sign have had particular success with their online lessons and videos, which were initially introduced during lockdown but have proved so popular that they’re now running permanently.

What to expect in class

The lesson will last approximately half an hour, with additional time set aside for socialising afterward, where adults can chat, and babies can play. The children are guided in singing songs about fun things they might recognise from their own life, such as vehicles, bedtimes, and animals, by enthusiastic and professional teachers. There’s also a lot to excite young minds, including toys, instruments and peek-a-boo boxes.

Stage one classes are run for children from 5 to 16 months old, and stage two classes cater for children over 14 months. Each franchise is slightly different, but older siblings (who can already talk) can usually tag along for free, and for twins and triplets you only pay for one place.

Feedback from parents and carers

The feedback about Sing and Sign is overwhelmingly positive. Many people highlight how much their baby picks up in such a short space of time, with lots of parents and carers noting that even after one lesson, their child has started to use signing regularly. Other parents and carers have commented on how fun their children find the songs, and that they love to continue singing them with their children long after the lesson has ended. Even teachers and nursery practitioners remark that children who have attended Sing and Sign are markedly more confident socially and in their communication.

Photo by SAULO LEITE