Hands up for sign language as classes launched for babies

CLASSES in baby sign language are being launched in the Capital to allow parents to converse with their very young children.

Infants aged from just a few months can learn to put across their thoughts to each other through a series of gestures and expressions.

And the youngsters will also be able to communicate with deaf friends or colleagues in later life, as the system is based on British Sign Language.

Baby signing involves associating signs with a range of useful words such as "milk" or "sleep".

Teacher Lisa Allison, 28, who has a BA in deaf studies and English Language and Linguistics, decided to start Wee Bairns Signin' after volunteering to work with a deaf three-year-old at a nursery in Preston.

She said: "This little boy had been able to hear, but became deaf after suffering from meningitis.

"His teacher decided to learn to sign and now, when she reads a story to the class, she does it in sign language as well as reading it aloud.

"The other children soon started to pick up sign language and can now communicate with him, which totally amazed me. I had heard about babies being taught to sign in America and I tried it out on some friends' children - it was fantastic."

Ms Allison, who lives in Fife, added: "I started teaching one friend's baby at four months old and she could understand when her mother made the sign for milk - you could see it in her facial expression.

"If the mother signs 'milk' every time she gives it to her baby, they will understand the sign, then when they can do it themselves, they will tell their parents when they want milk."

The idea first originated in America, where it is common for nursery teachers to communicate with their young pupils through sign language.

It is believed that children as young as seven months can clearly make signals with their hands and feet.

Ms Allison added: "It is fantastic when parents can speak to their children and get a response.

"Most parents would love to know why their child is crying and know what they can do to help them. Through signing, that is possible, even from a very young age.

"Although this has been done in England before, most people concentrate on hearing children, whereas, with my background in working with deaf people, I want to make the class completely inclusive so deaf and hearing children can communicate with each other."

Mum Fiona Borland, 31, said she hoped to take her 15-month-old daughter Katie to Ms Allison's classes.

Mrs Borland, a communications officer from Edina Place, said: "Katie already does her own form of signing. For example, when she's hungry she screws up her mouth or points towards the kitchen.

"You often get the impression she is trying to tell you something and it would be fantastic if she could learn to sign so we could take that a step further."

Baby signing author Cath Smith, who wrote the Let's Sign books for babies and toddlers, said: "Baby signing really helps children to visualise language. A lot of nursery rhymes have actions and this is just the next step.

"As well as being a great advantage to parents and children to establish early communication, it also really helps to change attitudes and brings knowledge of deafness and British Sign Language to children."

An introductory class costs £15, while a five-week block is £40. All students get a free My First Signs book to help them continue learning at home. The classes start on March 6 at Molly's Soft Play Centre at Ocean Terminal.