Rachael Collier-Thomas
Classes offered:
I started my Sing and Sign journey when my girls were babies. It was our favourite mum/baby group and one we both really enjoyed. It wasn’t over stimulating and I loved how engaged they were with it. We also love music and singing so this was the perfect class for us! There is something about singing that nourishes the soul!
When they started to Sign it was wonderful to see how much they understood and how they could communicate with me. Both my girls signed “more” as their very first sign. Which is it not too uncommon, because baby realises they can get more of what they want, more cuddles, more of their favourite food.
I am now in my third year of teaching Baby Sing and Sign, which is truly rewarding and a joy. I am interested in child/baby development and any concept which further supports learning and communication.
The Sing and Sing approach is teaching the parents to communicate with their preverbal babies, through baby sign. Babies instinctively gesture and we are giving them additional gestures, as means of communication, which helps to avoid frustration and upset. The key is to consistently sign at home with baby, during their routines. The repetition in context, supports their understanding of the signs. In class parents/carers learn the signs and babies just enjoy the songs and social aspect.
We teach through nursery Rhymes and music, because not only are these great fun, but these really help to stimulate a baby’s language development, memory and attention skills.
When we are signing to baby, we always keep it simple by signing one word per sentence and we always say the word as we sign it. We are encouraging speech, instead of replacing it.
It is really special to be part of other mum’s/baby’s Sing and Sign journey; seeing many come back and repeat terms with me and watch the little ones develop and grow through each term. It never ceases to excite me when they sign in class or I hear about how they sign at home.
I look forward to welcoming you and your baby to my classes!
Check out Rachael’s
Book with us
If you would like to book a treatment, class, event or workshop follow this link.
Get our newsletter
Instagram @moon_womens_health
