Welcome to TinyTalk Dulwich, Sydenham & Beckenham. I'm Jane your local TinyTalk teacher, primary school teacher and mum of 3.

I first heard about babysigning when my eldest son was about 6 months old and a friend gave me a book about it. I thought it sounded a great idea and decided to give it a try by signing a few basic signs to Sam. After 8 weeks or so I was about to give up hope when suddenly, he signed 'milk' to me! I was astounded that my little man could ask me for something! I continued teaching him a few signs and went on to teach his brother, Jake too but it was their sister, Lottie who took signing to a whole new level.

In 2007, having given up my teaching job, moved house and become pregnant I was looking for something to do to keep me busy! Becoming a TinyTalk teacher seemed the perfect solution, allowing me to use my teaching skills and develop my interest in signing. Lottie was just 9 weeks old when I started teaching classes and accompanied me until she was 3 1/2 years old - by then happily demonstrating signs to everyone!

Lottie took a while to start signing but once she got started it was incredible! Her first sign was milk but she quickly picked up others and was able to tell me what she wanted - like the morning she signed 'swing' to me! She could also tell me the things she could see; a dog on the other side of the road. I was continually amazed by her ability to communicate and the obvious enjoyment she got from it too. One day, Lottie woke from her nap screaming and I went into her room to find her signing 'pain'. When I asked her where it hurt she pointed to her ear. A trip to the GP followed and sure enough she had an ear infection. Thank goodness for babysigning! By 18 months, Lottie had a signing vocabulary of over 70 signs and her speech was developing alongside this all the time.

TinyTalk classes are relaxed and lots of fun with half an hour of singing and signing followed by half an hour of social time with toys for the babies and drinks and biscuits for the adults. This means they not only provide an opportunity to learn a new skill together but they are also a great way to meet other babies and their carers and there is time to ask any questions too. I thoroughly enjoy the classes and it is so special when a baby signs for the first time - an enormous smile can be seen on everyone's faces usually accompanied by "Wow!"