What happens At Sign and Learn with Love and Cuddles sessions?
 
We at Love and Cuddles believe that fun is the most important ingredient in our sessions. Alongside lots of fun, we have singing, stories, our mascot 'Cuddles', and very importantly time for Mummies (and Daddies) to have a coffee and a chat.
 
How much does it cost to attend one of your sessions?
 
It costs £4 per mum, per session. Therefore if you have two children you only pay the one price. We know how unpredictable life can be with babies around so there is no need to book a place, just turn up, you'll be sure of a warm welcome from our tutors.
 
How old do babies have to be before they can come to Sign and Learn session?
 
Babies can come to sessions as soon after their birth as you would like to bring them. We run two different types of sessions; one for babies under one year and one for those over a year so we can cater more specifically for the individual needs of each group.
 
How old are babies when they can start to learn signs?
 
Babies can start to learn signs from around seven months, waving hello or goodbye is a simple sign and can also show that your baby may be ready to start learning other signs.
 
My baby is not yet six moths old, what will they gain from attending your sessions?
 
We hope that all babies who attend our sessions will have lots of fun. Although babies under six months old cannot learn the signs, they will still be stimulated by the music and actions going on around them. Perhaps even more importantly however, they will love being around other babies.
 
I'm currently pregnant, can I attend your sessions before my baby is born?
 
Of course you can, we know what an exciting time this is for you and we can't wait to meet you. Even better, you can attend our sessions without charge whilst you wait for your new arrival.
 
I want to start signing at home with my baby. Where do I start?
 
Choose a few simple signs to begin with, such as milk, food, nappy or more. Try to use them as many times each day as you can but make sure you always accompany your signs with speech so your baby associates them with spoken language.
 
I'm not sure I want to start signing at home with my baby, can I still come to one of your groups?
 
Of course you can. Here at Love and Cuddles, the emphasis is very much on fun. It is completely up to you, whether you choose to sign at home or would rather just come along to group and enjoy the music and actions.
 
How long will it take before my baby starts to pick up signs?
 
Different babies will pick up signs at different rates just like they will learn to talk and walk at different times. Some babies pick up signs within a matter of days, others may take weeks or months and some may start speaking without ever using signs. Whether your baby learns to sign or not by interacting with him/ her in a fun environment we hope you will both gain enjoyment from the experience.
 
What if there are no groups in my area?
 
We are striving to open groups in as many areas as possible, so if you give us your details we will get back to you as soon as one opens. Or even better, why not think about opening a group yourself. No prior knowledge of baby signing is needed as we provide you with a comprehensive training package. You can even bring along your baby, both to training and group sessions, so you will be earning money whilst doing something you'll both enjoy.
 
I've heard that signing with your baby can affect the development of speech, is this true?
 
Yes, there is certainly evidence that signing with your baby alongside ordinary speech will promote their development and enable them to acquire language more quickly.
 
I know that there are different types of signing systems, which do you use?
 
We use British Sign Language (BSL) within our classes as we believe it's important to use a living language. Therefore, not only will parents be able to sign with their baby but they will have the skills to equip them to communicate (albeit on a basic level) with those who use sign language as their first method of communication.