With Sing and Sign classes across the country adapting to online learning, Bath, Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon franchisee, Raych Carbery, has been donating part of her course fees to the RUH Forever Friends/Hospital Heroes Appeal.
“My husband was really poorly ahead of lockdown, and we think he very likely had Covid-19,” explained Raych. “Once he recovered, I wanted to give something back to the community, and donating part of the fees paid to join Sing and Sign seemed a positive way to help.”
Sing and Sign classes help to teach babies to sign well before they can speak, so that their parents can understand their needs. Sing and Sign combines the benefits of both music and baby signing to teach a wide range of signs using some traditional and some specially written or adapted songs.
The Babes age group course in Bath, which is suitable for up to babies up to six months, has so far raised over £400 from the classes which ran from April to June.
“There are definitely some real benefits to these courses being held online,” said Raych. “The families who join us with little ones are able to join their classes from the comfort of their own home, via Zoom. With the parents wearing headphones to listen to the lessons, they are able to pass the lessons on to their babies, meaning that the babies are hearing a familiar voice. It also means that the babies don’t even need to engage with the screen, while the parents are learning – and passing on – a whole new skill!”
A new five week series of online Sign and Sign lessons, suitable for up to six months old, starts on Thursday 9 July at 3pm and Friday 10 July at 11am. The lessons last between 35-45 minutes, with participating families encouraged to sing and play games at other times when their baby is awake and alert.
The courses cost £30 each, including a Songbook and Double CD package, with at least £10 of the fees being donated to charity.
For more details, contact Raych on 07787 765907 or email hidden; JavaScript is required