Small 'talk' gets message across
LITTLE Kyle Zammit may be too young to talk but he can still make some of his wishes known thanks to the fact he has learned some ‘tiny talk’.
Kyle can sign for a ball or if he wants a drink – aiding communication until he is able to vocalise his wishes.
That is because his mum Faye takes Kyle to a weekly class of TinyTalk Toddlers in which the tot has learned a few basic signs.
Faye, a 38-year-old full-time mum of West Heath, is one of a group of parents who take part in the hour-long activities at Northfield’s Albert Bradbeer Children’s Centre each Friday. The toddlers’ group was launched in September as an extension to a series of classes for younger children TinyTalk Baby Signing.
Faye and Kyle have been attending for about three months but already her son has learned quite a few signs.
“Kyle has picked up some of the signs really quickly,” says Faye. “I think it really helps as he was getting a bit frustrated at not being able to communicate. He wasn’t able to tell us what he wanted but now he can make the drinks sign and show us what he wants.
“He also likes the interaction with other children.”
Indeed Faye is so keen she has also started taking her goddaughter Charlie-Mae Tullett, who is 19 months, and she attends a group for younger children, Baby Signing, with her youngest child Cody, who is 18 weeks old.
Mum Bernadette Sims was also keen for her 19-month-old daughter Caitlin to learn to sign.
“We started going to Baby Signing when she was about four or five months old,” says 39-year-old Bernadette of Kings Norton, who is currently on a career break from her job as a legal executive. “One of the first signs she learnt was the milk sign and that was followed by other signs for food and then she gradually picked up other bits.
“She enjoys it, the songs and the signs are good fun and it really takes her education on. She did find it frustrating not being able to communicate and even a simple sign can make such a difference.”
And Bernadette believes learning the signs also helps Caitlin develop her speech.
“It is a dual process as she is learning the word at the same time as the sign,” she says. “Children of this age absorb so much that it is all educational. They are little sponges.”
Mum Kerry Twist is a newcomer to the group along with her 12-month-old son Kamaron.
“I saw it advertised and thought it would be a good thing to try,” says the 18-year-old full-time mum from Longbridge. “This is my first time and everyone has been really friendly and welcoming.
