Hi, I'm Fiona and this is my little Tiny Talker, Rosa. Wecome to TinyTalk Edinburgh South.

When I had my daughter I started reading about the benefits of baby signing and the more that I read, the more I thought it would be a great thing to do. I bought a book and started signing at home and then I discovered TinyTalk baby signing classes. Straight away I was impressed by how friendly the class was and how nice it was to meet other like minded parents.

A few weeks after starting signing with my daughter she made the milk sign to me - amazing! Not long after she first signed milk we were at the supermarket and Rosa started madly waving both arms in the air making the milk sign and getting very excited. When I looked round and realised we were in the milk aisle and said "Yes, milk" she looked so pleased that I understood what she wanted to tell me.

I had no idea how much went on in a baby's head before I started baby signing with my daughter. Babies can start to sign from about 6 months, or around the time that they start to wave and clap, which is long before they are physically able to speak. By teaching your baby to sign they are able to tell you when they are hungry, thirsty or cold and communicating their needs in this way can reduce frustration. But what I like best about baby signing is that you get a little window into what they are thinking. They can tell you what they have seen or what has caught their interest. My daughter went to the beach with her Daddy and came home and made the sign for boat and for water. When she realised that I understood that she had seen the boats on the sea she was so happy, which is just great for self esteem. Not long after her first birthday she was able to sign to me that she would like me to read a book and then when I asked which one, she could sign that she would like the bus book or the teddy book or any number of other ones.

The classes are really relaxed and great fun. We do half an hour of singing and signing along to well known nursery rhymes. We do some action songs and then get the instruments out and let the babies have some fun with them. The second half hour is a chance for you to relax with a cuppa and a chocolate biscuit while the babies play with the toys. This is a great chance for you to ask any questions about signing and get lots of helpful hints to use with your child at home.

I am running TinyTalk baby signing classes in Edinburgh South, at venues in Marchmont and Craiglockhart. We'd love you to come along and join us.

Fiona and Rosa x